FIA reveals why F1 cars stopped in rain at Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Key Points:

• The FIA revealed that technical issues during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia were caused by a software bug triggered by cars driving extremely slowly in wet conditions, which had not been extensively tested this season.
• The race start was delayed by 40 minutes due to heavy rain, and a glitch during the formation lap caused several cars, including front-row starters Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, to stall, leading to a red flag and a 53-minute race delay.
• FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis explained that the bug prevented power redeployment to the cars, and a rapid software update was implemented within 20 minutes to resolve the issue under significant time pressure.
• Drivers like Sergio Perez and Lando Norris criticized the electronic issues as unacceptable and highlighted concerns about the reliability of Formula 1’s new hybrid power units, which rely heavily on electrical power.
• Despite the disruptions, Fernando Alonso humorously noted his good fortune, referencing his high rate of DNFs this season and Aston Martin-Honda’s strong performance on the day.