Sepang software glitch delays F1 start by about 50 minutes
A software glitch left cars stuck in idle during Sepang’s planned formation laps, causing a roughly 50-minute interruption to the start procedure for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Bearman and Sergio Pérez described unresponsive throttles, while Oscar Piastri said it would be unfair to assign blame before an explanation.
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Software problems at wet Sepang left drivers stuck in idle mode at points during the two planned formation laps, causing a roughly 50-minute interruption to the start procedure for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Motorsport.com reported that the bug involved very low speeds and the power-unit controller’s wet-weather mode. It said the FIA delivered a software patch for all 11 teams to install during the following red-flag stoppage.
Max Verstappen said he had triggered the issue first. He said he saw eight other cars still crawling after a lap.
Oliver Bearman said his throttle pedal stopped working while the engine idled, and described the experience as scary. Sergio Pérez, a Cadillac driver in one of several affected Ferrari-powered cars, said pressing the accelerator produced no response. He called the incident unacceptable for the sport but said he was sure the sport would learn from it.
The responses included criticism of F1’s technology as well as caution over blame. Fernando Alonso said the series now involved too much technology and felt spectators did not really appreciate it. Oscar Piastri said he was stuck for about a second and found the episode bizarre, but said it would be unfair to assign blame before an explanation.
Sources 02
- SOURCE"Horrible, totally unacceptable" - Powerless F1 drivers frustrated by Bahrain F1 software glitchMotorsport.com F1
- PRIMARY SOURCEDoc 60 - Final Race ClassificationFIA F1 decision documents
Claims and supporting evidence 11
Motorsport.com describes the formation-lap disruption and delay; FIA Doc 60 identifies the event as the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at Sepang.
The report describes the low-speed and wet-mode issue and the patch sequence.
These details are attributed to Verstappen’s account of the formation laps.
The report records Bearman’s description of the problem.
The report attributes this reaction to Bearman.
The report identifies Pérez’s car and records his account of the accelerator response.
The report attributes both the judgment and the expectation to Pérez.
The report attributes these views to Alonso.
The report records Piastri’s account of his experience.
The report attributes both the reaction and the caution about blame to Piastri.
This is a scoped summary of Alonso’s and Piastri’s reported comments, not a claim about a shared view across the grid.
Corrections and updates to this story
Sepang software glitch delays F1 start by about 50 minutes
Correction: Clarified that the roughly 50-minute software interruption was separate from the earlier rain delay. The Dutch wording now states that affected cars could not accelerate. Shortened Verstappen’s account. This is an AI-assisted editorial correction based on source review.
This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.