Sainz urges F1 to examine its rules after race software fault

BBC Sport reports that a bug in wet-weather engine-map software left several cars struggling to move on the formation laps at Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The start was abandoned, new software code was issued, and the race began an hour and a half late.

In remarks reported by BBC Sport on 5 October, Williams driver Carlos Sainz said Formula 1 needed to take a hard look at itself. Sainz, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, argued that the regulations were too complicated for drivers, teams and engine manufacturers, and that decisions made four or five years ago were wrong. He also said the FIA and F1 were doing the best they could under those rules.

BBC Sport links the fault to a wet-weather setting that reduces total electrical power from 350kW to 250kW. It reports that governing body the FIA has launched a full review, but gives no timetable or outcome.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said on Monday that the incident was a reminder to keep system complexity under control. He expected teams, the FIA and F1 to discuss how to prevent a repeat.