Key Facts

• A software bug caused power loss in some cars during the Bahrain Grand Prix formation lap at Sepang circuit in Malaysia.
• Drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, experienced serious performance issues, with Hamilton having to stop and restart his car on track.
• The bug appeared due to a mix of low engine speed, wet track conditions, energy management settings, and the specific parts of the Sepang circuit.
• The FIA removed the problematic energy limit in the affected sectors by updating the software before the race start.
• The issue was not found during preseason testing, partly because there was no wet weather testing.
• The FIA, teams, and engine makers will fully review the problem to prevent it in the future.
• This event highlights ongoing challenges with the new cars and engines, which have more electrical parts needing careful energy management.
• The track started wet but dried during the race.