FIA pinpoints cause of Sepang F1 software failure and sets two-stage response

The FIA has completed its investigation into the software failure that disrupted the opening of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at Sepang, setting out a two-stage response. If similar wet-weather conditions are expected in Singapore, it says it will reinstate the emergency configuration used at Sepang. That configuration lifted the restrictions associated with the 250kW limit in the affected mini-sectors before the restart. The FIA also said a further wet-weather software update would be released for the United States Grand Prix on 25 October.

The FIA said its review found that cars running at low engine RPM in certain sectors where the 250kW power reduction applied experienced a loss of power beyond the intended amount, which could not be recovered in those sectors.

The problem emerged as the field moved slowly behind the safety car during the formation laps: Max Verstappen lost power first, Lewis Hamilton then came to a standstill and several other cars followed. The FIA's rapid update was sent to all teams and manufacturers to install before the restart.

After the race, Nikolas Tombazis said the software had not been tested as extensively as he would have liked because there had been little wet-weather running. The FIA later clarified that the software had been tested during opening practice at the Belgian and Dutch Grands Prix. The fault did not surface there: the cars ran at normal speeds and did not reach the very low speeds encountered behind the safety car in Malaysia.

Tombazis said the specific problem would not recur, but he could not guarantee that no other bugs would emerge.

The review recommends stronger software testing. The FIA, teams and power-unit manufacturers say they will continue strengthening testing and verification, with independent assessment and feedback that includes the supplier of the standardised ECU.