A software bug in the power unit controller’s wet-weather mode left many cars unable to deliver power during the formation laps of the Bahrain GP held at Sepang. When drivers slowed to the very low speeds required on the wet circuit, the controller triggered an idle loop that cut throttle and left cars crawling or stalled, forcing officials to abort the start. The FIA coordinated a rapid software patch for all 11 teams during a red-flag stoppage that removed the affected wet-weather power reduction in specific zones, but the fix cost about 50 minutes and became a major blemish on a mixed-weather race that otherwise produced good action.
Leading drivers reacted with frustration and alarm, saying the incident underlined problems with overcomplicated hybrid, battery-focused systems and heavy electronic control. Lando Norris called the failure “horrible” and argued it showed such systems are problematic; Oscar Piastri mocked the novelty of a bug delaying a Grand Prix; Sergio Pérez described the situation as totally unacceptable; Oliver Bearman said it was scary that throttle input could be cut remotely; Fernando Alonso warned of excessive technology; Max Verstappen lamented the complexity of modern power units after spotting multiple cars crawling behind him. The episode amplified drivers’ unease about electronic governance of performance and reliability in the new-generation cars.
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