Bahrain Grand Prix chaos erupted as software glitches throttled the 2026 F1 cars to a frustrating standstill.
Uncontrolled Powercut Outbreak
During the opening formation lap a boggy start sowed confusion as cars began losing thrust mid‑lap. Drivers struggled to react to a throttle that refused to respond, turning the field into a series of reluctant paperweights.
Lewis Hamilton had to shut his engine completely and restart it in order to move again, underscoring the breadth of the malfunction.
Leclerc’s On‑Track Account
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc described the episode as “very tricky, very strange.” He recalled the moment he misinterpreted the safety‑car light, thinking it had switched off, only to realise the cars were stuck at about 20 kph.
“I was just like, ‘OK I’m probably just going to go. When I went on throttle I had exactly the same problem,” Leclerc said. “Everyone was in the same boat.”
FIA’s Debug Report
FIA single‑seater chief Nikolas Tombazis detailed the root cause: a “bug prevented the power from being redeployed once the cars slowed below a critical speed.”
He added that the issue appeared mainly in final sectors, where a low‑speed trigger forced the cars into a loop that prevented re‑acceleration.
Driver Concerns Over 2026 Powertrain
Leclerc warned that the episode highlighted a deeper frustration: the 2026 powertrains offer unpredictable horsepower swings. “You can have 100 horsepower more or less at the corner exit,” he said, emphasizing the lack of driver control.
He added that such variability at race starts could allow rival teams to gain unfair advantages via sudden power surges.
No Immediate Fix on Horizon
When pressed about a short‑term cure, Leclerc chose diplomatic caution: “We’ve been raising these issues, and I hope that we fix them. But, unfortunately, I don’t think there’s any short‑term solutions.”
He explained that regressing or altering the formula would take time due to decisions made years earlier. FIA is aware, and the sport will see a new set of regulations in 2030, with 2027–2029 leaning slightly towards internal combustion engines.
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