FIA to roll out software update for F1 cars ahead of Singapore Grand Prix
A software fix addressing a power‑reduction bug will be applied to Formula One cars before the Singapore race, the FIA said.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) announced that a software update will be installed on Formula One cars before the Singapore Grand Prix to avoid a repeat of the power‑loss problems that halted the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Malaysia.
What happened
During the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, a formation‑lap incident left several drivers, including Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, unable to power their cars in wet conditions. The start was abandoned, the grid returned to the pit lane and the race eventually began after a 53‑minute delay. An investigation identified a software bug linked to the 50‑50 split between combustion and battery power as the cause.
What the reports add
Both Independent articles reported that the FIA’s review found that cars operating at low engine RPM in sectors where a 250 kW power reduction was applied suffered a loss of power beyond the intended limit, and that the issue could not be recovered in those sectors. The FIA statement said the configuration used for the Sepang event will be reinstated for the Singapore Grand Prix if similar weather conditions are expected.
What was said
"The review concluded that some cars running on low engine RPM in certain circuit sectors where a 250kW power reduction was applied experienced a loss of power beyond the original intent and that could not be recovered in those sectors," the FIA statement read, as quoted by the Independent.
How it came about
The incident follows a weekend of dry practice sessions at the makeshift Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, which Felo News covered on 2 October (Verstappen and Leclerc top dry practice sessions as Malaysia awaits rain). Teams had been uncertain about wet‑weather performance, and the unexpected power‑reduction bug highlighted the challenges of the hybrid power‑unit split under rain.
Key facts
- The FIA will issue a software update to prevent power‑loss issues in wet conditions at the Singapore Grand Prix. (independent.co.uk)
- The problem stemmed from a 250 kW power reduction applied at low engine RPM, causing unrecoverable loss of power. (independent.co.uk)
- Drivers Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were among those affected at the Sepang start. (independent.co.uk)
