The Bahrain grand prix, temporarily staged at Sepang, turned into a technical nightmare when a bundle of Formula 1 machines ground to a halt on the formation lap. Heavy rain, low engine speeds and a newly-introduced power-unit architecture collided to produce an “unprecedented” loss of thrust, forcing the race directors to abort the start and re-queue the grid after more than an hour of waiting.
According to the FIA technical department, the issue stemmed from a combination of low turbo-spool speeds, wet-weather energy-management settings and the circuit’s characteristic sector layout. The hybrid unit, now almost split 50/50 between internal-combustion and electric power, failed to deliver the required torque when drivers lifted off the throttle for too long. With the MGU-H removed under the 2026 regulations, the turbo slowed down, and once the battery depleted the cars could only rely on the combustion engine, which could not meet drivers’ acceleration demands.
How the glitch unfolded on track
When the lights finally came on, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and several midfield drivers found their cars refusing to decelerate after the brake pedal was pressed. In some cases the power-unit simply ignored the brake request, propelling the car straight into the barriers. The FIA’s Article B1.8.5 – which forbids “unnecessarily slow, erratic or potentially dangerous” driving – was instantly breached, prompting an emergency stop.
The stewards invoked Article C1.4, allowing them to deem any vehicle “dangerous” and withdraw it from competition. A rapid software patch was distributed during the rain-induced delay, removing an energy-limit constraint that had been triggering the power loss. Teams were given a narrow window to upload the fix before the race could be restarted.
Drivers’ reactions and the FIA’s response
Front-runners expressed disappointment and frustration. George Russell described the day as “a bit of a faff” and lamented the “endless laps under the safety car”. Lando Norris called the incident “horrible” and argued that the current 53/47 split between combustion and electric power is untenable. Sergio Perez likened the experience to “rental karting that ran out of time”, while Carlos Sainz warned that the sport “needs a hard look at itself”. Even Max Verstappen, the eventual race winner, urged the governing body to learn from the mishap.
The FIA acknowledged the flaw as “unprecedented” and pledged a full review with teams and power-unit manufacturers. Their statement emphasized that the problem had not been identified during testing or earlier practice sessions, highlighting the difficulty of validating complex hybrid software under variable weather conditions.
Broader implications for the 2026 power-unit era
Since the 2026 rule package eliminated the MGU-H and increased reliance on electric torque, teams have been forced to juggle two fundamentally different power sources. Critics argue that the current balance – roughly 50 % internal-combustion and 50 % electric – creates a “hazardous” driving environment, especially on slippery tracks where low engine speeds are unavoidable. The incident at Sepang underscores concerns that drivers no longer have direct, predictable control over acceleration and braking, potentially breaching Article B1.8.1 which requires the driver to operate the car “alone and unaided”.
Several commentators suggest a re-calibration of the hybrid split, perhaps moving toward a 75 % combustion / 25 % electric ratio, to restore a more linear torque curve and reduce reliance on software interventions. While such a shift would lower peak power – from the projected 1 000 bhp to around 850 bhp – many argue that preserving driver agency and safety outweighs the pursuit of ever-higher top speeds.
In the meantime, the race proceeded after a 100-minute interruption, with Hamilton’s Ferrari briefly stalling before restarting, and the podium ultimately featuring Verstappen, Russell and Sainz. The episode, however, has ignited a debate that could shape the future direction of Formula 1’s hybrid technology.
