Verstappen Shines at Sepang with First Win of the Season

Max Verstappen’s return to the Sepang International Circuit—a venue he hadn’t raced at since 2017—was quite eventful. Not only did he claim victory in the race, marking his first win of the season, but he also secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix, making it a memorable weekend for him.

Yet, it wasn’t just the victory that captured attention; it was the chaotic moments at the race’s start that seemed to be the main focus.

The race experienced multiple delays due to inclement weather and a “software issue.” Initially, the start was pushed back by 40 minutes because of rain, followed by another 33-minute delay after an unsuccessful start in the wet conditions.

As F1 attempted to commence the race post the first delay, race stewards opted for at least two formation laps, hoping to kick off the event as conditions began to improve. However, during the first of these controlled laps, Verstappen communicated over the radio that his Red Bull was having acceleration issues.

Lewis Hamilton, who was set to start from second position, reported even more significant problems, dropping him down the starting order. At one point, he had to stop in the pit lane, with Haas and Cadillac cars—also utilizing Ferrari power units—having issues on track as well.

This situation led to another delay, during which cars were returned to their initial grid positions, allowing teams to work on various software updates to address the power loss. The start procedure was halted once again.

During this pause, Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord spoke with Sky Sports F1, explaining the situation. “All the teams have been sent some new parameters to load into the cars which is happening up and down the grid,” he noted. “There may have been some software trouble behind the difficulties we saw earlier.”

Eventually, the race kicked off, with Verstappen clinching his first win of the season ahead of Antonelli and Hamilton. However, the pre-race commotion dominated discussions after the checkered flag.

Verstappen commented on the complexity of the engines and the significant role of software. “You know, these engines are so complicated, and yeah, when there’s like some kind of… I want to call it… That’s the problem,” he said. He even drew a comparison to “the Lego race,” referring to the LEGO Drivers’ Parades that F1 had introduced at certain events.

Here’s an interesting exchange between Verstappen and Hamilton:

Hamilton: “Well, I had to stop on track and stop the car and engine and restart it. I’ve never done that before.”
Verstappen: “Yeah, what can you say? I mean, that’s not what you want, right, for the sport.”
Hamilton: “Yeah, I hope there is a lesson learned.”

Hamilton: “No, but it was because they had to update the software and then you have to load it into the car. I guess some had faster laptops than others.”
Verstappen: “Yeah, that was the delay, just getting the software transferred, I guess, for everyone.”

Several drivers, including Fernando Alonso, raised concerns about allowing the stalled cars a chance to restart. “It’s the first time I see it,” he remarked, noting the injustice compared to previous races with more severe issues that weren’t halted.

After the race, the FIA released a statement promising a “full review” of the incidents that transpired. They highlighted an “unprecedented combination” of factors that affected the race start.

The statement detailed, “On the formation lap ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, an unexpected mix of low engine speed, low-grip conditions, wet-weather energy management settings and the Sepang circuit’s sector layout caused unintended power loss for several cars.”

It went on to explain that the FIA’s Technical Department removed the energy limit constraints through a software update given to all competitors amid the rain delay, allowing necessary adjustments to be made to the power units prior to the race beginning.

“This issue had not been detected by the FIA or teams during testing or during the laps to the grid. The FIA will collaborate with teams and power unit manufacturers to fully review the matter,” the statement concluded.

With Antonelli finishing second and George Russell retiring, he drew closer to his first F1 Drivers’ Championship, now holding an 84-point lead as the season reaches its conclusion.

The next F1 event will be the Singapore Grand Prix next weekend.