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FIA to review power losses that disrupted Bahrain GP start

GPBeat reports that the FIA will conduct a full review with teams and power-unit manufacturers after power losses forced race control to suspend the start procedure for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The FIA attributed the losses to low engine speed, low grip, wet-weather energy-management settings and Sepang’s sector configuration.

GPBeat · Newsroom04 Oct 2026, 20:18 · 2 min
Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred.
Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-10-04GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

The FIA will conduct a full review with Formula 1 teams and power-unit manufacturers after power losses on wet formation laps forced race control to suspend the start procedure for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Rain had already delayed the scheduled start by 40 minutes when the field went out behind the safety car for two formation laps in wet conditions. Several cars crawled or stopped. RacingNews365 reported that the cars of Lewis Hamilton, Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas stopped on track. The start sequence was then suspended under red flags.

During the interruption, Autosport reported that software involvement was suspected. The FIA later attributed the unintended power loss to an unprecedented combination of low engine speed, low grip, wet-weather energy-management settings and Sepang’s sector configuration. It said the issue had not been detected by the FIA or teams during testing or on the laps to the grid.

RacingNews365 reported that the 2026-spec cars were making their first formation lap in wet conditions in competition; earlier wet-weather running had been in Pirelli tyre tests or pre-season shakedowns. FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis said the software had been tested, but not in those specific conditions, and cited very little wet running in 2026.

During the stoppage, the FIA Technical Department removed the energy-limit constraint in the affected sectors through an updated software release sent to competitors, enabling teams to adjust their power units before the start. The race resumed without further similar trouble.

The BBC reported that the field order had become jumbled and that one reading of the rules could have changed the restart order. Officials nevertheless returned to the original grid because the situation was unprecedented and outside any competitor’s control.

After the race, Verstappen and Hamilton likened the scene to a Lego race. Hamilton said he had to stop the car and engine on track and restart them.

Sources 07
  1. SOURCEHamilton & Verstappen bemused after glitch turns F1 into 'Lego race'BBC Sport F1
  2. SOURCEFIA explains software glitch that caused Bahrain GP in Malaysia race delayAutosport
  3. SOURCEFIA vow to launch 'full review' into Bahrain GP formation lap carnageRacingNews365 English
  4. SOURCEFIA issue apology after on-track stoppages cause Bahrain GP chaosRacingNews365 English
  5. SOURCEF1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia descends into chaos as car trouble prompts red flagAutosport
  6. SOURCEF1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia descends into chaos as car trouble prompts red flagMotorsport.com F1
  7. SOURCEMax Verstappen survives chaos as FIA apologise for race-stopping 'bug'RacingNews365 English
Claims and supporting evidence 10
The FIA announced a full review with teams and power-unit manufacturers after power losses during the wet formation laps forced race control to suspend the start procedure.

The FIA statement reproduced by RacingNews365 announces the review and describes the formation-lap power loss.

[3]
Rain delayed the scheduled start by 40 minutes; the field then went out behind the safety car for two wet formation laps, during which several cars slowed to a crawl or stopped.

RacingNews365 reports the initial rain delay, the formation laps and cars slowing or stopping.

[3][4]
RacingNews365 reported that the cars of Lewis Hamilton, Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas stopped on track, before the start sequence was suspended under red flags.

RacingNews365 names the three cars it reported stopping and describes the red-flag suspension.

[4][3]
Autosport initially described software involvement as suspected; the FIA later attributed the unintended power loss to low engine speed, low grip, wet-weather energy-management settings and Sepang’s sector configuration.

The initial Autosport report presented a software link as a suspicion; the FIA statement reproduced by RacingNews365 gave the technical account.

[5][3]
The FIA said it and the teams had not detected the issue during testing or on the laps to the grid.

This is stated in the FIA statement reproduced by RacingNews365.

[3]
The 2026-spec cars were making their first formation lap in wet conditions in competition; earlier wet running had been in Pirelli tyre tests or pre-season shakedowns.

RacingNews365 gives both the competitive wet-running context and the earlier types of wet-weather running.

[3]
Tombazis said the software had been tested generally but not in the specific conditions that arose, and cited very little wet running in 2026.

The BBC and RacingNews365 record Tombazis’s qualification about the test conditions; Autosport records his comment about limited wet running.

[1][4][2]
The FIA removed the energy-limit constraint in affected sectors through an updated software release distributed to competitors so teams could change their power units before the start; the race resumed without further similar trouble.

The FIA statement reproduced by RacingNews365 describes the software release and the race resuming without a repeat of the issue.

[3]
The BBC reported that one reading of the rules could have changed the restart order, but officials reverted to the original grid because the situation was unprecedented and outside competitors’ control.

The BBC reports both the possible alternate reading of the rules and the reason given for using the original grid.

[1]
After the race, Verstappen and Hamilton likened the scene to a Lego race, and Hamilton said he had to stop and restart his car and engine on track.

The BBC records the drivers’ post-race comparison and Hamilton’s account.

[1]
Corrections and updates to this story
05 Oct 2026, 14:11

FIA to review power losses that disrupted Bahrain GP start

Updated: Added the cars reported to have stopped, the decision to restore the original grid for the restart, and Verstappen and Hamilton’s post-race comments. | Bijgewerkt: De gemelde stilgevallen auto’s, het besluit om bij de herstart terug te keren naar de oorspronkelijke gridvolgorde en de reacties van Verstappen en Hamilton na de race zijn toegevoegd.

This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.