Norris calls Bahrain GP software chaos 'horrible' as F1 drivers demand hybrid rethink

A software glitch in F1’s 2026-generation power units caused a 50-minute delay to the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang’s wet circuit, leaving multiple cars stranded in idle mode during the formation lap and prompting a wave of criticism from drivers across the grid.

The bug, embedded in the power unit controller’s wet-weather mode, activated when cars were travelling at very low speeds and trapped affected drivers in an idle loop they could not override. With several cars unable to proceed, the FIA was forced to rapidly code and deploy a software patch to all 11 teams during a red flag stoppage — an unprecedented intervention in a world championship race.

Lando Norris, one of the Mercedes-powered drivers caught by the glitch, was unsparing in his assessment. “It’s just horrible. I don’t know, it just proves that we shouldn’t have any of that stuff, the electronic side,” the McLaren driver said. For Norris, the incident reinforced a broader argument that Formula 1 should move away from its hybrid architecture entirely.

Teammate Oscar Piastri was equally pointed, if more sardonic. “I’ve never seen an F1 race delayed by a bug. That was a new one,” he said. “I got stuck for about a second. When the turbo doesn’t work on these things, you might as well push the car instead of using an engine. It was quite bizarre. It wasn’t a great look, but I think it would be unfair to point the finger before there’s an explanation.”

Cadillac’s Sergio Perez, driving a Ferrari-powered car that was among those affected, reached for a more colourful comparison. “It felt like you were in a rental kart and you ran out of time,” the Mexican said. “You were putting your foot down and accelerating and nothing was coming. I’m sure we will learn from it as a sport. But what happened today is totally unacceptable for the sport.”

Haas driver Oliver Bearman described the experience as “scary”, revealing that the FIA’s remote intervention cut his throttle pedal without warning. “I’ve never seen anything like that. I was shocked,” he said. “I didn’t even know that the FIA could control our throttle pedal. That was quite scary, actually. My throttle pedal stopped working, but it looks like everybody stopped working as well. The engine was just idling.”

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso added that there was now “too much technology” in the sport, a sentiment that echoed across the paddock. The incident marked the first wet-weather race for the 2026 car generation and exposed a critical vulnerability in the new formula’s software architecture at one of the most high-profile moments of the season.