The FIA disclosed that an “unprecedented” glitch led to a chaotic start at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, where multiple cars, including race leader Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, experienced power issues during the formation lap due to heavy rain.

Heavy rain in Sepang caused a delayed start, and as drivers left the pit lane, several cars nearly halted, prompting the FIA to abandon the initial start procedure. The race eventually commenced with the original grid order nearly an hour later.

The FIA explained that the glitch stemmed from:

• Low engine speed
• Low-grip conditions
• Wet-weather energy management settings
• The circuit's sector configuration

As a result, the FIA Technical Department removed energy limit constraints through an updated software release, enabling teams to adjust their Power Units before the race.

This issue had gone undetected during testing or the laps to the grid. The FIA, alongside teams and Power Unit manufacturers, will conduct a full review.

This season saw the introduction of new technical regulations, including a power unit that is nearly 50% electric, which some drivers criticized due to its complexities requiring unusual driving styles.

Charles Leclerc shared his experience, stating he initially mistook the Safety Car's actions amidst the spray and found himself stuck at 20 kph like his competitors. Verstappen humorously likened the situation to a “Lego race” due to the bizarre circumstances. Hamilton noted he had to stop and restart his engine on track, a first for him.

Both drivers expressed concerns over the incident, with Hamilton hoping for lessons learned moving forward.