The FIA has completed its investigation into the extraordinary problems that disrupted the start procedure at Sepang, identifying a software energy-management issue involving low engine speeds and restrictions on electrical power. The governing body has also confirmed that a further wet-weather software update will be introduced at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
The problems emerged during the formation laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, when several cars suffered unexpected power losses and race control was forced to suspend the start procedure. The unprecedented situation raised questions about the reliability of the software managing Formula 1’s new power units and about the validation procedures completed before its introduction.
The FIA has now issued a statement explaining the cause of the anomaly, detailing the measures intended to prevent a repeat and rejecting criticism that the software used at Sepang had not been adequately tested.
FIA identifies the cause of the Sepang F1 power-loss problem
The investigation confirmed that the issue was triggered by a specific combination of very low internal-combustion-engine revs and restrictions on electrical power in certain sections of the circuit. Under those conditions, some cars suffered a greater-than-expected loss of available power without being able to recover it through the affected sectors.
The system was designed to reduce the available power by 250 kW in specific areas of the track. However, the power units operating at particularly low revs produced consequences that had not been anticipated. The problem became apparent during the formation laps, when the cars were travelling at very low speeds on a wet circuit.
The FIA therefore traced the problem to software management of energy rather than to a mechanical reliability failure within the power units. The distinction is significant because it highlights how the increasing complexity of the electronic systems controlling the new engines can create unexpected behaviour even in apparently less demanding conditions such as a formation lap.
The Sepang weekend formed part of a revised 2026 Formula 1 calendar in which the Bahrain Grand Prix was staged at the Malaysian circuit before the championship moved on to Singapore and then Austin.
Singapore configuration retained before new Austin software arrives
If similar weather conditions occur at the next Singapore Grand Prix, the software configuration established for the Sepang event will be restored. A further update specifically designed to improve power unit management in wet conditions will then be distributed for the United States Grand Prix, scheduled for 25 October.
The FIA has also announced stronger verification procedures while acknowledging the limited opportunities available for on-track testing. The aim is to improve the ability to identify potentially critical combinations through simulation work, independent assessments and closer cooperation between the governing body, Formula 1 teams, power unit manufacturers and the supplier of the standard electronic control unit.
The change therefore comes at an important point in the calendar, with Singapore preceding the Austin weekend. Ferrari’s preparations for the next event can also be followed through the site’s Ferrari technical analysis coverage.
FIA rejects claims the Sepang software had not been tested
One of the most significant parts of the FIA statement concerns the checks completed before the Sepang Grand Prix. The governing body directly addressed suggestions that the software had been introduced without prior testing.
According to the FIA, teams and power unit manufacturers had already carried out simulator exercises to validate the package before implementation. The software had also been tested on track during FP1 at both the Belgian and Dutch Grands Prix.
The clarification indicates that the problem was not caused by a complete absence of validation. Instead, the issue arose because it is not possible to reproduce every operational combination that may occur during a race weekend during the testing phase. That limitation becomes increasingly important as the electronic systems responsible for controlling Formula 1 power units become more complex.
How the FIA solved the Sepang software issue in under 50 minutes
The FIA also reconstructed the sequence of events on Sunday to underline how quickly the anomaly was identified and corrected.
At 15:45, after two formation laps, the start procedure was suspended because several cars were suffering power-loss problems. Just five minutes later, at 15:50, the FIA technical group had already identified the cause and distributed an updated software configuration intended to resolve the issue.
Further technical instructions were sent to the teams at 16:03 to clarify how the new configuration should be installed and operated. Integration was completed by 16:20, and the ten-minute signal preceding the start procedure was issued at 16:22. At 16:33, the cars left the pit lane.
In less than 50 minutes, the FIA and the power unit manufacturers had therefore identified a software anomaly, prepared a solution, distributed it and completed its integration across the cars. The intervention was particularly complex because the revised configuration had to remain compatible with the systems used by the different engine manufacturers.
At the end of its statement, the FIA explicitly thanked the teams, power unit manufacturers and its own technical staff for their cooperation during the interruption, stressing that the combined effort allowed the issue to be resolved and the race to take place safely.
The championship now moves from the unusual Sepang weekend towards the Singapore Grand Prix before the United States Grand Prix, where the next dedicated wet-weather software package is scheduled to arrive.
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