Formula 1 "needs to have a hard look at" itself after unprecedented software glitches disrupted the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Williams driver Carlos Sainz said. A bug in the wet-weather engine map caused multiple cars to stall during formation laps, delaying the start by 90 minutes. Sainz, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, criticized the complexity of regulations decided five years ago, stating the sport must learn from its mistakes.
The FIA launched a "full review" of the incident, which occurred due to minimal wet-weather testing this year. Red Bull's Laurent Mekies emphasized the need to control system complexity. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the 50-50 internal combustion and electrical power split, which has left engines energy-starved and reduced driver skill impact.
Teams warned the FIA since 2023 about energy management issues. While the split attracted Audi, Ford, and Honda, it has led to cars slowing on straights to recharge batteries, as Fernando Alonso noted. Rule changes are underway, including a shift to a 60-40 split by 2028, as F1 works on a new engine formula.
Sumber: BBC Sport · Diringkas oleh HeadlinesBriefing