An F1 software glitch crippled Formula 1’s 2026 cars on Oct. 4 at Sepang in wet conditions, forcing the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia to be delayed 90 minutes. The glitch exposed how fragile F1’s complex 2026 power unit architecture has become and sparked backlash from drivers questioning whether the sport’s pursuit of technological sophistication has gone too far.
The glitch struck during the first formation lap in heavy rain. The FIA said “an unprecedented combination of low engine speed, low-grip conditions, wet-weather energy management settings and the Sepang circuit’s sector configuration led to an unintended loss of power for a number of cars.” Multiple drivers lost throttle response, crawling around the track at walking pace.
How the F1 software glitch froze the race
Max Verstappen triggered the problem first. “When you go too low in speed, then it just bogs down,” he said. “I was pressing the throttle and nothing’s happening.”
Lewis Hamilton faced the same problem and stopped on track to restart his systems, according to AP News. The delay stretched because teams had to update software and load it into each car. Verstappen joked: “I guess some had some faster laptops than others.”
By the time the race finally started, the track had dried considerably, stripping away the test of wet-weather driving that fans anticipated for F1‘s first rain race of 2026.
Drivers blast the delay and the regulations
Reigning champion Lando Norris called the situation “horrible,” adding: “It proves that we shouldn’t have any of that stuff on the electronic side.”
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll said the sport missed genuine racing. “We should have been out there running,” he said. “Instead cars are fixing their software issues. It’s a bit sad to see.”
Sergio Pérez, driving for Cadillac, was blunt. “What happened today is totally unacceptable for the sport,” he said.
Verstappen, who went on to win despite the chaos, acknowledged the deeper problem. “That’s the problem that we have, these engines are so complicated and a lot of software is implemented,” he said. “When there is some kind of error or glitch, that’s the problem.”
Hamilton questions 2026 regulations
Lewis Hamilton, who finished third after a late charge, compared the crawling formation lap to a children’s toy brand race, saying “It was like the Lego race!” while sitting beside Verstappen at the postrace news conference.
Hamilton went further, questioning the entire regulatory direction taken five years ago. “It is clear the regs are extremely complicated for the drivers, for the teams, for the power units, for the manufacturers. It is too complicated,” he said. “My only question mark is who, five years ago, decided that this was the direction to go?”
George Russell retired when his power unit failed during the final safety car period. He highlighted the toll on fans: “The whole day felt like a bit of a faff, with the delay and then the red flag and then endless laps under the safety car,” he said. “It didn’t feel very F1 today.”
What’s next
Verstappen said he hopes there is “a lesson learned,” according to AP News. The grid moves to Singapore for the next round.
Reporting from ESPN, The Associated Press, The Race and Sky Sports contributed to this story.
