In brief
Max Verstappen won round 16 in Malaysia, earning Red Bull its first victory with its Ford-based power unit and matching Michael Schumacher's 72 wins for a single constructor.
A wet-weather engine management software error caused cars to lose power on formation laps, forcing the FIA technical department to issue a live patch during a 90-minute delay.
Kimi Antonelli took second place to extend his championship advantage to 84 points after Mercedes teammate George Russell retired with an engine issue.
Grand Prix Drivers' Association director Carlos Sainz and world champion Lando Norris criticized the complex 2026 power unit regulations following the Sepang delays.
- Formation lapsSoftware bug triggers power loss and stops multiple cars on the wet track
- Start suspensionFIA distributes a software update removing sector energy limit constraints
- Race startField begins racing after a start delay of more than 90 minutes
- Race finishVerstappen wins ahead of Antonelli and Hamilton as Russell retires
Software failure halts formation laps
The Formula 1 Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, staged as round 16 of the season to replace the cancelled Bahrain race, faced an aborted start following a software failure during formation laps. Heavy tropical rain had delayed proceedings before the field took to the wet track behind the safety car. Under low-grip conditions and low engine speeds, the mandatory FIA engine management software triggered an unintended loss of power across multiple cars. Max Verstappen reported that his car would no longer accelerate, Lewis Hamilton came to a complete stop and performed a system reboot, and cars from Haas and Cadillac halted on track. The FIA technical department distributed an updated software package during the delay to remove energy limit constraints in the affected sectors, pushing the total start delay past 90 minutes.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis explained that limited wet testing contributed to the software issue.
“Some cars went very slowly, almost came to a standstill. There was a bit of a concertina effect between cars, and some cars almost stopped completely.”
Verstappen secures Red Bull victory
When the race got under way on a drying surface, pole-sitter Verstappen lost the lead off the start before recovering through two safety car periods to claim his first win of the season. The triumph represented the first victory for Red Bull using its in-house power unit developed around a Ford engine. The result brought Verstappen level with Michael Schumacher on 72 wins for a single constructor, matching the tally Schumacher set with Ferrari between 1996 and 2006. Hamilton finished third for Ferrari after climbing through the field from an early pit deficit caused by starting on soft slick tyres. Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc finished fourth, while Fernando Alonso finished eighth for Aston Martin, securing the team's best finish of the season.
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 84 wins
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 72 wins
- Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
- 72 wins
Data from the article text
Antonelli extends championship advantage
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli finished second, widening his lead in the drivers' championship to 84 points over teammate George Russell, who retired due to a power unit failure. The 20-year-old Italian, competing in his second Formula 1 season, is seeking to become the sport's youngest world champion and the first Italian titleholder since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Mercedes struggled for pace against Red Bull in Sepang, but Antonelli avoided incidents in the changing conditions to secure his podium finish.
Antonelli noted after the race that his team still faced technical hurdles despite the result.
“I think today was the maximum we could have done.”
Drivers and teams question technical complexity
The glitch prompted criticism from drivers regarding the hybrid engine regulations, which divide power between combustion and electrical systems. Williams driver and Grand Prix Drivers' Association director Carlos Sainz questioned the long-term direction of the sport's technical rulebook.
“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?”
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said the event served as a reminder to ensure technical complexity remains under control. The FIA confirmed it will conduct a full review alongside teams and engine manufacturers to examine how wet-weather energy management settings operate at low engine speeds.