Rain and a software glitch caused significant disruption to the race at Sepang, according to Motorsport.com. A downpour initially delayed the start by 40 minutes. When the cars eventually began their formation lap, several drivers, including front-row starters Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, experienced a loss of throttle response. With multiple cars coming to a standstill, officials waved the red flag.
The FIA’s Nikolas Tombazis explained that the problem emerged when cars slowed almost to a complete stop during the formation lap. A software bug prevented power from being redeployed, leaving affected drivers unable to get moving again. He acknowledged that limited wet-weather running during the season had left this particular combination of conditions insufficiently tested.
The incident drew criticism from drivers. Sergio Perez called the situation unacceptable, while Lando Norris questioned the electronic complexity of the new machinery. Their reactions highlighted the frustration of encountering a technical failure at a crucial moment, particularly in already challenging weather conditions.
According to Tombazis, FIA engineers quickly identified the cause and prepared a software update, which teams then installed on their cars. He said that process took approximately 20 minutes, although the overall interruption before the race restarted lasted 53 minutes. He apologised for the delay while defending the speed of the technical response.
The episode offers a useful lesson for businesses developing software-dependent systems: testing needs to account for unusual operating conditions as well as everyday use. A rapid response can help restore operations, but an overlooked scenario can still cause substantial disruption when a system is put under real-world pressure.
Source: www.motorsport.com
