Sepang:Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has announced a comprehensive review of a software issue that led to power loss during the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia. The glitch caused numerous cars to slow down or stop during the formation lap at the Sepang International Circuit.

According to Anadolu Agency, the FIA reported that an unusual combination of factors, including low engine speed, low-grip conditions, wet-weather energy management settings, and the circuit's configuration, contributed to the power loss. During a race delay caused by heavy rain, the FIA Technical Department issued an updated software release to remove the energy limit constraint in affected sectors, allowing teams to adjust their Power Units.

The FIA noted that the issue went undetected by both the organization and teams during pre-race testing and the laps to the grid. A full review involving the FIA, teams, and Power Unit manufacturers will be conducted to address the problem.

The race's start was delayed by 40 minutes due to heavy rain, during which several drivers, including Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, experienced power issues. Verstappen described the event as reminiscent of a "Lego race" due to the complexity of modern power units and their software dependencies. He first noticed the problem and saw others struggling behind him, likening the situation to drivers racing life-sized Lego cars at a previous event.

Hamilton mentioned that his Ferrari slowed down significantly, forcing him to stop and restart the car on track, an experience he had never encountered before. Despite the issues, Verstappen won the race, with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli finishing second and Hamilton recovering to secure third place.