RaceFans and Autosport have reported:

The FIA has completed its review of the power losses that disrupted the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and outlined changes to the software used in wet-weather conditions. The configuration applied at Sepang will be reinstated for the Singapore Grand Prix if similar weather is expected, while a further update is scheduled for the United States Grand Prix on October 25.

The disruption unfolded before Sunday’s race at Sepang. Several cars powered by Red Bull-Ford, Ferrari and Audi slowed sharply during the formation lap, and race control suspended the start procedure after two formation laps. Half the field came to a standstill behind the safety car during the opening phase described by Autosport, leaving officials and teams to address the problem before racing could begin.

The software controls how much power drivers can use in different parts of a lap, under a requirement introduced in the 2026 power unit regulations. The FIA said the failure occurred when the restrictions interacted with low engine speeds in certain circuit sectors. Its review said some cars “running on low engine RPM in certain circuit sectors where a 250kW power reduction was applied experienced a loss of power beyond the original intent and that could not be recovered in those sectors.”

The 250kW reduction applies to wet-weather races. According to Autosport, a software bug caused the electric motors to enter a lock-down mode in the slowest parts of the circuit. Without electric power to compensate for turbo lag, pressing the throttle produced no response. The FIA released revised power unit software during the interruption, and teams and manufacturers installed it before the race resumed.

The emergency change lifted the 250kW restrictions in selected mini-sectors where the issue had appeared. The FIA said the same Sepang configuration will be restored in Singapore if comparable weather conditions are forecast. It also plans to issue a further wet-weather software update for the race in Austin on October 25, making the response a two-stage process: a return to the emergency configuration in Singapore when needed, followed by a further revision before the United States Grand Prix.

RaceFans reported that no additional software changes were planned specifically for this weekend’s Singapore round, which is a sprint event with only one hour-long practice session. The FIA’s stated plan is conditional on the weather: the Sepang configuration will be reinstated if similar conditions are expected. The new update is scheduled for the following round in Austin.

The investigation examined four areas: the precise cause of the formation-lap power loss, possible measures to prevent a recurrence, future management of wet-weather power unit settings and energy limits, and lessons from data supplied by individual teams and power unit manufacturers. The FIA said its review recommended stronger software testing, while acknowledging that chances to test wet-weather settings are limited.

The governing body said it will work with teams and power unit manufacturers, or PUMs, to improve software testing and verification. The work is to include an enhanced validation process, independent assessment, collaborative feedback and input from the supplier of the standardised Electronics Control Unit, or ECU. The objective, as stated in the review, is to make the software as robust as possible despite limited opportunities for testing.

The FIA also addressed claims that the software had not been adequately tested before its use. It said teams and power unit manufacturers had conducted simulation exercises before implementation, then tested the package in full-scale running during Free Practice 1 at both the Belgian Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix. The issue did not appear in those sessions, according to Autosport and the FIA statement reproduced by RaceFans.

Autosport reported that those tests took place at normal running speeds. The cars therefore did not encounter the extremely low speeds seen behind the safety car at Sepang, which helps explain why the fault was not exposed in Belgium or the Netherlands. The account contrasts the completed tests with the unusual low-speed conditions that accompanied the Malaysia problem.

The FIA’s timeline shows how the interruption and software response unfolded. At 15:45, after two formation laps and reports of power losses from a number of cars, the race start procedure was suspended. Five minutes later, at 15:50, the technical team had identified the cause and released updated power unit software configurations intended to address it.

At 16:03, 18 minutes after the suspension, the FIA gave teams further technical guidance and clarification about implementing, installing and operating the revised configurations. Teams and power unit manufacturers completed integration at 16:20, with all competitors ready to start approximately 20 minutes later. The 10-minute signal was issued at 16:22, and cars left the pit lane for the race start procedure at 16:33.

The FIA thanked the teams, power unit manufacturers and its technical team for their diligence and responsiveness during the interruption. It said their combined work allowed the issue to be identified, addressed and resolved so the race could proceed safely. The timeline records the suspension at 15:45 and the pit-lane departure at 16:33.

Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, gave an initial explanation to media after the race and said a more detailed investigation would follow. He had said the specific problem encountered in Malaysia would not happen again, but did not promise that no other software problems could emerge with the complex 2026 power units. “Obviously, that was a major criticality and we need to make sure we avoid it. But can I guarantee it will never happen again? This specific problem, yes. A problem, no. But we will do our best to avoid it, of course”, Tombazis said.

Ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, the review has now been completed. The FIA’s next steps are to use the Sepang configuration if similar weather arises in Singapore, issue the planned wet-weather software update before the United States Grand Prix, and continue work with teams, manufacturers and the ECU supplier to strengthen testing and verification.