Williams driver Carlos Sainz calls for a review after software glitches delayed the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Formula 1 needs to have a hard look at itself following unprecedented software glitches that disrupted the recent Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia, according to comments made by Williams driver Carlos Sainz.
A critical bug in the software for a wet-weather engine map forced an abandoned start, requiring a new code and delaying the race by an hour and a half, according to information published by BBC.
The governing body, the FIA, has launched a full review into the incident, which occurred because very little wet-weather running took place this year, leaving the specific trigger circumstances untested.
Complexity of modern F1 regulations
Carlos Sainz, who serves as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, stated that the current regulations are extremely complicated for drivers, teams, power units, and manufacturers alike.
Reflecting on the strategic direction chosen years ago, Sainz noted that the sport needs to learn from these mistakes and ensure that future regulations do not repeat the same errors.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies added that the incident serves as a good reminder to keep vehicle and system complexity under control moving forward.
Energy starved power units and wet weather issues
The core of the issue ties back to this year's new engine regulations, featuring a nearly fifty-fifty split between internal combustion and electrical power.
These engines are fundamentally energy starved, leading drivers to feel that cars behave in counter-intuitive ways, while significantly reducing the overall impact of driver skill.
Under full power, the units produce about 1,000bhp, but that figure drops to 540bhp when the batteries run completely out of charge during a lap.
Wet weather restrictions and battery recharging
Specific operational restrictions triggered the recent problem in Malaysia, including a wet-weather reduction of total electrical power from 350kW down to 250kW.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso previously described how cars must slow down at the end of straights to recharge batteries, turning challenging fast corners into charging stations.
Teams have warned the FIA about these potential issues since 2023, yet the split was not seriously questioned until the real impact became apparent at the start of this year.
Future engine formula and regulatory changes
To address these ongoing concerns, a series of rule changes have already been introduced, with the energy split shifting to a 60-40 internal combustion favour by 2028.
Teams and Formula 1 bosses are currently working on a brand new engine formula that will introduce power units that are never energy starved.
While FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem initially pushed for naturally aspirated V8s, the current likeliest solution is a V8 turbo with minor electrical power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia delayed?
The race was delayed by an hour and a half because a software bug in the wet-weather engine map prevented several cars from moving properly during the formation laps.
What did Carlos Sainz say about F1 regulations?
Carlos Sainz stated that Formula 1 needs to have a hard look at itself because current regulations are far too complicated for drivers, teams, and manufacturers.
How do current F1 power units handle energy?
The current engines use a fifty-fifty split between internal combustion and electrical power, making them energy starved and forcing cars to recharge batteries multiple times per lap.
What changes are coming to F1 engine rules?
The energy split will shift to 60-40 by 2028, and officials are working on a new engine formula featuring V8 turbos that will not be energy starved.
