"Horrible, totally unacceptable" - Powerless F1 drivers frustrated by Bahrain F1 software glitch
· Yahoo Sports
Leading F1 drivers are despairing at power unit software glitches that derailed the start of the Bahrain GP in Malaysia, with Lando Norris calling the electronic glitches "horrible" and further proof that F1 should move away from hybrids.
The start at a wet Sepang circuit was aborted after a large number of cars suffered crippling software issues. With the event being the first wet weather race contested by the 2026 generation of cars, a bug in the software when drivers were driving at very low speeds, triggered by the power unit controller's wet weather mode, left drivers stuck into idle mode at various points of the two planned formation laps.
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With several cars stuck into that idle loop, the FIA had to rapidly code and deliver a software patch for all 11 teams to install during the following red flag stoppage, lifting the usual wet weather power reduction in the affected zones. It took a 50-minute delay for the race to start, which was a major blemish for F1 ahead of what was otherwise an entertaining, mixed-weather race.
With drivers already harbouring misgivings on F1 2026's battery-dominated racing and the overbearing electronics that are in charge, the incident did little to further endear them to the current formula.
"It's just horrible. I don't know, it just proves that we shouldn't have any of that stuff, the electronic side," Norris said, one of the few powered drivers to suffer the glitch.
"I've never seen an F1 race delayed by a bug. That was a new one," Piastri said mockingly. "I got stuck for about a second. When the turbo doesn't work on these things, you might as well push the car instead of using an engine. It was quite bizarre. It wasn't a great look, but I think it would be unfair to point the finger before there's an explanation."
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenCadillac's Sergio Perez, who drove one of several powered cars that were affected, was less kind. "It felt like you were in a rental kart and you ran out of time," the Mexican explained. "You were putting your foot down and accelerating and nothing was coming.
"I'm sure we will learn from it as a sport. But what happened today is totally unacceptable for the sport."
Haas driver Oliver Bearman said it was "scary" for his throttle pedal being cut off by something beyond his control. "I've never seen anything like that. I was shocked," he said. "I didn't even know that the FIA could control our throttle pedal. That was quite scary, actually. My throttle pedal stopped working, but it looks like everybody stopped working as well. The engine was just idling."
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso said there was now "too much technology" involved in the series and felt "the spectators don’t really appreciate it" either. Meanwhile, race winner Max Verstappen, whose slow getaway helped trigger the bug, likened the formation lap chaos to the Lego go-kart race in Silverstone.
"That’s the problem that we have," the Dutchman said. "These engines are so complicated and a lot of software is implemented. I triggered it first and then I looked in my mirror and I was like: 'Wait, are they waiting for me or what’s going on...?'
"It was like the Lego race, the same speed. At some point we were five-wide on the straight because we couldn’t understand what was going on. Then we did a lap and then I saw eight other cars crawling still.
"What can you say? I mean, that’s not what you want for the sport, right?"
Photos from F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia- Sunday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingJoe Portlock / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull RacingSona Maleterova / Getty Images
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, FerrariMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
The drivers parade
The drivers paradeColin McMaster / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
If Verstappen
If VerstappenSona Maleterova / Getty Images
Fans
FansSrinivasa Krishnan
Fans taking part in pit stop challenge
Fans taking part in pit stop challengeSrinivasa Krishnan
George Russell, Mercedes; Lando Norris, McLaren; Carlos Sainz, Williams
George Russell, Mercedes; Lando Norris, McLaren; Carlos Sainz, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Driver parade atmosphere
Driver parade atmosphereSrinivasa Krishnan
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Andy Stevenson, Aston Martin Sporting Director
Andy Stevenson, Aston Martin Sporting DirectorAlex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Wet weather
Wet weatherSrinivasa Krishnan
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Wet weather
Wet weatherSrinivasa Krishnan
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Marching bands perform on the grid.
Marching bands perform on the grid.Colin McMaster / LAT Images via Getty Images
Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli, MercedesBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesAlex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Fans under umbrellas
Fans under umbrellasBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Aston Martin team members
Aston Martin team membersAlex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSona Maleterova / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing BullsRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Liam Lawson, Racing BullsJoe Portlock / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Lando Norris, McLaren
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Lando Norris, McLarenJoe Portlock / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull RacingJoe Portlock / Getty Images
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariAlex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingPeter Fox / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingJoe Portlock / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingJoe Portlock / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls, Lando Norris, McLaren
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls, Lando Norris, McLarenClive Mason - Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSona Maleterova / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingClive Mason - Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull RacingClive Mason - Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingClive Mason - Getty Images
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