Totally unacceptable:' F1 drivers slam farcical Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

F1 drivers called Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia “horrible,” “sad,” and “totally unacceptable” after a wet, farcical start. Heavy rain delayed the race by 40 minutes, and teams attempted to go racing behind the Safety Car. But before any lap was completed, a software bug supplied by the FIA to all teams caused multiple cars to lose power. Max Verstappen, set for pole, was first affected, followed by Lewis Hamilton, who had to restart his Ferrari’s power unit on the pit straight. The FIA later cited low engine speed, low-grip conditions, energy-management settings, and Sepang’s sector layout. Drivers blamed overly complex 2026-era power unit regulations as cars returned for an FIA patch, leaving the start over 90 minutes late.