The race, which was relocated from Bahrain to Malaysia, was already delayed by heavy rain when several cars suffered power problems during the formation laps, forcing the original start to be aborted.
Software failure disrupts race start
The problems emerged as the drivers circulated behind the Safety Car in wet conditions.
Max Verstappen was among the first drivers affected, while Lewis Hamilton was forced to stop his Ferrari on track and restart the car. Several other cars also experienced significant power losses as they travelled at low speed.
The FIA said the incident resulted from an unprecedented combination of low engine speed, low-grip conditions, wet-weather energy-management settings and the configuration of Sepang's sectors.
The problem had not been identified during testing or on the laps to the grid.
FIA releases emergency software update
With the race already delayed by heavy rain, the FIA technical department worked on a software solution.
An updated software release removed an energy-limit constraint in the affected sectors and was distributed to all competitors during the delay, allowing teams to make the necessary changes to their power units before the race eventually got under way.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis acknowledged that the lack of wet-weather testing had contributed to the problem.
He said additional testing would probably have allowed the issue to be detected before the race weekend.
Drivers criticise F1's complex technology
The incident drew strong reactions from several drivers.
Verstappen described the experience as resembling a “Lego race”, while Hamilton was left bewildered after having to restart his car during the formation lap.
Other drivers also questioned the complexity and reliability of the new-generation Formula 1 cars, particularly the increased dependence on electrical power and sophisticated energy-management systems.
The incident came during the first wet race weekend of the 2026 season, exposing a condition that had not previously been encountered in competition.
FIA promises full review
The FIA said it would work with Formula 1 teams and power-unit manufacturers to investigate what happened and identify measures to prevent a similar problem from occurring again.
Tombazis said the governing body had been able to develop a solution during the race delay, but acknowledged that the incident demonstrated the need for further learning as Formula 1 continues to operate with its new power-unit regulations.
Despite the extraordinary start, the race eventually went ahead and produced an entertaining contest, with Verstappen claiming his first victory of the 2026 season, ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. Formula 1's official report confirmed Verstappen's recovery after initially losing positions at the start.
A warning for Formula 1's new era
The Sepang incident has raised questions about the increasingly complex technology underpinning the 2026 cars.
While the FIA has stressed that the problem was identified and addressed without compromising safety or sporting fairness, the governing body's investigation will determine why the software issue escaped testing and how similar scenarios can be avoided in future wet-weather races.
For now, the focus turns to understanding the failure before Formula 1's next race in Singapore.