McLaren’s Andrea Stella admits the Bahrain glitch could recur under today’s rules, yet hopes the FIA will prevent a repeat. Can the sport really afford another slip‑up?
The wet start at Sepang was halted when many cars lost throttle control on formation laps, a bug sparked by several interacting factors during F1’s first wet race with the new power units.
After a 50‑minute pause, FIA engineers rolled out a hot‑fix that teams installed before the green flag, turning a promising mixed‑weather showdown into a blemish for the series.
Stella, whose drivers felt the issue less than rivals, stressed the need to avoid a Sepang‑style drama while showing empathy for what unfolded.
In my view, the regulators have largely succeeded in shaping the new rules, though occasional software hiccups are inevitable and must be accepted across the grid.
Oscar Piastri – McLaren
He added that teams face many challenges and, when software problems arise, the sport should respond with acceptance and support to prevent recurrence, though competitors can’t claim flawless standards each weekend.
With such novelty, some tweaks are inevitable, and we can live with a few rough edges as the technology settles.
FIA single‑seater director Nikolas Tombazis said the specific Sepang fault will not reappear, labeling it a major criticality that must be avoided.
He clarified that while that exact issue can be eliminated, no guarantee exists that every glitch will vanish, though the board will strive to minimise them.
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– The Team