Lewis Hamilton and several other Formula 1 drivers were caught up in an extraordinary technical problem before the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang even began, as software issues forced cars to slow dramatically or stop during the Safety Car start procedure. The resulting chaos ultimately prompted Race Control to suspend the procedure and send the field back to the pits.
The unusual episode exposed an unexpected side effect of the new-generation 2026 power units during the first occasion this season on which the drivers had been required to deal with such prolonged low-speed running behind the Safety Car. Lewis Hamilton was particularly affected, with the Ferrari driver appearing at one stage to be heading for retirement before successfully resetting the system and getting moving again.
Sepang start delayed as rain forces Safety Car procedure
The race in Malaysia had originally been scheduled to start at 09:00, but heavy rain delayed proceedings. When the start procedure finally began, the cars were sent out behind the Safety Car because of the conditions at the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang.
It was the first time during the 2026 season that the drivers had been required to manage this particular situation with the new cars, and it immediately produced significant complications.
The software systems, which were not accustomed to the engines operating at such a low speed for an extended period, began causing problems for several cars. Ferrari-powered machinery appeared to be particularly affected after Max Verstappen encountered the first issue and slowed the group.
Lewis Hamilton forced to stop and reset his Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton was one of the most dramatic examples. The Ferrari slowed to such an extent that retirement initially appeared possible, but the British driver was able to perform a reset while stationary and subsequently resumed running at full power. Max Verstappen had managed to carry out his reset while still moving.
The incident created an unusual situation for the Ferrari driver before the race had even started. Further coverage of his weekend and the team’s performances can be found in the dedicated Lewis Hamilton Ferrari news section.
The disruption then divided the field into several groups. Under the regulations, drivers were reluctant to overtake Lewis Hamilton while his Ferrari was moving slowly ahead of them, further complicating the formation behind the Safety Car.
Haas and Cadillac also stop as Race Control abandons procedure
The problems were not confined to Lewis Hamilton. Haas and Cadillac cars also encountered difficulties and came to a stop so that their systems could be reset.
With several cars affected and the field no longer running together in an orderly formation, Race Control eventually suspended the starting procedure and instructed everybody to return to the pits.
The episode provided another unusual challenge in a season already defined by completely new Formula 1 power-unit technology. Mechanical failures, retirements and finishing rates throughout the new technical era can also be followed through the F1 Reliability & DNF Statistics.
2026 F1 power units reveal an unexpected low-speed problem
From one perspective, teething problems were always possible given that this was the first time the new cars had encountered these particular operating conditions in 2026. Nevertheless, what happened at Sepang was far from an ideal advertisement for the new technology.
The episode highlighted a significant side effect of the 2026 power units: running for a prolonged period at unusually low engine speeds behind the Safety Car was enough to create software problems serious enough to leave multiple cars requiring resets.
The unusual Malaysian race is part of a heavily revised championship schedule, with the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place at Sepang on 4 October as shown in the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. Before racing could begin, however, the new-generation cars had already delivered one of the strangest technical episodes of the season.
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