The FIA has closed its investigation into the incidents that occurred during the Malaysian Grand Prix, held in Sepang, and has presented solutions to prevent future occurrences. The race started with notable chaos, as nearly half of the vehicles were stopped behind the safety car.
The problem was due to a software error related to the 250 kW power restrictions imposed by the FIA during wet races. Nikolas Tombazis, FIA director, indicated that, although the situation was resolved immediately with an adjustment, a more thorough investigation was necessary to address new challenges.
Implemented solutions
The investigation identified the root cause of the problem, which involved a loss of power in some vehicles operating at low revs in certain areas of the circuit. The electric motors entered a locking mode in the slower parts of the layout, preventing drivers from accelerating effectively.
In response, the FIA sent a software update to all teams before restarting the race, temporarily removing power restrictions in the affected areas. This solution will be replicated during the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix if weather conditions necessitate.
New software improvements
The regulatory body has announced that a more permanent software update will be ready for the United States Grand Prix, scheduled for October 25. Tombazis stated that this incident will not occur again, although he cannot guarantee that new errors will not arise with the complex power units of 2026.
The FIA emphasized the need to improve the software testing process, given the lack of testing in rainy conditions throughout the season. Although the software was successfully tested during the opening sessions of the Belgian and Dutch GPs, the issue that arose in Malaysia was not addressed.
To avoid future incidents, the FIA will collaborate with teams and manufacturers to optimize the validation and verification of the software for the power units, working together to make better use of the resources available in upcoming races.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
