F1 'Needs a Hard Look at Itself,' Sainz Says After Software Glitches Delay Bahrain GP in Malaysia

SEPANG, Malaysia — Williams driver Carlos Sainz says Formula 1 "needs to have a hard look at" itself after unprecedented software glitches disrupted Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, BBC Sport reported, as governing body the FIA launched a "full review."

A bug in the software for a wet-weather engine map left a number of cars struggling to move on the formation laps, BBC Sport said. The start was abandoned and a new software code issued, and the rain-affected race, won by Max Verstappen, began one hour and 33 minutes late, according to The Independent.

'Who decided five years ago?'

Sainz, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, said: "It is clear the regulations are extremely complicated for the drivers, for the teams, for the power units and for the manufacturers. Who decided five years ago that this was the direction to go?

"We are doing the best with what we are given as a sport and as regulations. The FIA and F1 are doing the best they can. But clearly what was decided four or five years ago was wrong. We need to learn as a sport not to make those mistakes again."

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who temporarily broke down in his Ferrari, compared the scenes to the Lego race held before July's British Grand Prix, while Mercedes driver George Russell said it "didn't feel very F1," The Independent reported.

FIA review and calls to curb complexity

The FIA said an "unprecedented combination of low engine speed, low-grip conditions, wet-weather energy management settings and the Sepang circuit's sector configuration led to an unintended loss of power for a number of cars."

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said on Monday the episode was "a good reminder for all of us that we should probably make sure that complexity doesn't get out of hand," BBC Sport reported.

This year's engines split power almost 50-50 between internal combustion and electrical energy. According to BBC Sport, the problem was triggered by a rule that cuts total electrical power from 350kW to 250kW in the wet after very little wet-weather running this season.

Russell's failure to finish leaves him 84 points behind Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli with seven scheduled rounds left, The Independent said. The championship heads next to Singapore, the final round of a triple-header.

Sources: BBC Sport; The Independent