F1 in Bahrain… in Malaysia: The race needed a software update to start

Heavy rain delayed the start of the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on October 4, 2026, after a software bug caused half the field to shut down. During formation laps behind the safety car, reduced hybrid power settings on wet sections of the track tricked several cars into thinking they were breaking anti-cheating rules.

This triggered an automatic 60-second shutdown of their electric motors, forcing organizers to abort the start and issue a software update. Nikolas Tombazis, head of single-seater racing at the FIA, explained that the issue stemmed from safety software settings developed jointly by the FIA, teams, and engine makers that had not been adequately checked.

After a 20-minute delay to update the software and re-grid the cars, the race restarted. Max Verstappen of Red Bull ultimately won the race, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes taking second and Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari finishing third.