Charles Leclerc describes scary software bug at Sepang GP

During the formation lap at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, several Formula 1 cars experienced a sudden loss of power due to a software malfunction. Charles Leclerc described the incident as “a bit scary,” noting that cars were forced to crawl at speeds of approximately 20 km/h.

Leclerc explained that he initially believed the safety car had turned off its lights or that drivers were simply managing tire temperatures. However, he soon realized that multiple drivers, including Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, were facing the same issue where the cars could not accelerate.

Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA director for single-seater racing, attributed the chaos to a combination of factors. He stated that when cars slowed to very low speeds on a wet track, a software cycle prevented them from regaining full power and accelerating again.