Formula One faced ridicule after a chaotic start to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, where software failures left cars unable to run in the rain. The race, delayed by heavy rain, saw drivers unable to accelerate or control their cars, prompting mockery from the drivers and a review from the FIA.
Race delayed by heavy rain and software chaos
The race in Sepang, held in Malaysia to replace the cancelled Bahrain GP, was delayed because of heavy rain. As the field took to the track in wet conditions, they ran behind the safety car for two formation laps. The software, integral to the power delivery in engines using an almost equal split of electrical and combustion energy, encountered a scenario beyond its parameters.
Max Verstappen announced he could no longer accelerate, then Lewis Hamilton slowed and came to a stop before having to do a forced reboot of his car. A number of drivers reported the same problem, and one Haas and one Cadillac ground to a halt. The field was in disarray, and the start was suspended.
Drivers mock the situation
The problem was caused by a combination of low engine speeds, low-grip and the circuit layout coming up against the wet weather management of the power delivery software. The FIA described it as an unanticipated bug. There was a 53-minute delay while the FIA wrote and applied a software update, which did work.
Verstappen and Hamilton mockingly compared the situation to driving Lego cars as part of the pre-race entertainment at Silverstone in July. “These engines are so complicated and a lot of software is implemented,” said Verstappen. “When there is some kind of error or glitch, that’s the problem. I triggered it first, then I look in my mirror and I just see everyone … I was like wait, are they waiting for me?”
“It was like the Lego race,” said Hamilton. “Yeah, we had the same speed,” said Verstappen. Both drivers were laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
FIA announces review
The FIA said it will conduct a review with the teams and the power unit manufacturers. The incident highlighted the foibles of these engines and how much has been taken out of drivers’ control.
When addressing complaints about the engines after the Hungarian GP, F1’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, cited a conversation with the Star Wars creator, George Lucas, as evidence that new fans were not interested in the drivers’ dissatisfaction. “He gave us an incredible chance to see how we can really simplify things because the new fans are not understanding … what is behind the scenes. They are fascinated on the fact there is a lot of action.”
When the race did get under way in Sepang, it was entertaining. Hamilton came back from dropping to 17th to third place. Verstappen was out front, while George Russell’s dramatic late retirement all but put paid to his title hopes. Yet the reality was laid bare: drivers reduced to being all but passengers, pushing buttons on a steering wheel to no effect on software over which they have no control.
F1 might also consider it dodged a bullet. Had the race started in the dry and then a downpour arrived, the failure would have happened as the cars circulated mid-race behind the safety car. The rules were agreed with full input from F1, the teams and the power unit manufacturers. As Carlos Sainz asked: “My only question is who, five years ago, decided this was the direction to go?” No quick fix is coming, but what happened in Sepang emphasised how misconceived these regulations were.
