FIA to investigate software fault after disrupted Bahrain GP start in Malaysia

The FIA will carry out a full investigation after a software fault disrupted preparations for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, BBC Sport reported. Several cars struggled to move during wet formation laps at Sepang, including those of front-row starters Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton said he had to switch off his engine and restart it on track.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqh6RICzxVg

According to BBC Sport's account, the problem involved software governing electrical power use in wet conditions. A combination of low engine speeds, limited grip and features of the circuit triggered the fault. FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis said testing had not covered those particular circumstances, with little wet running available during the year.

Tombazis said the governing body still needed to complete its review. He distinguished preventing a repeat of this specific fault from guaranteeing there would never be another technical problem. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the disruption but urged support for resolving problems during the first season of the complex regulations.

BBC Sport's separate race report said heavy rain and the subsequent technical difficulties delayed the start by an hour and a half. The FIA supplied a software update that removed an energy-limit constraint. Officials also had to resolve the starting order after cars changed places during the troubled formation laps, eventually retaining the original grid rather than using the shuffled positions.

Once racing began, Verstappen recovered from losing ground to both Mercedes drivers at the start. He passed George Russell on lap six and later overtook Kimi Antonelli following a safety-car period. The Red Bull driver then controlled the race to secure his first victory of the year, finishing ahead of Antonelli and Hamilton despite another late safety car.

Russell retired with a power-unit failure while running third with five laps remaining, leaving Antonelli 84 points ahead of his team-mate in the championship. Hamilton's podium followed a recovery from an unsuccessful decision to start on slick tyres while the track remained wet. He passed Isack Hadjar with three laps to go, and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc subsequently took fourth ahead of the Red Bull driver.