Charles Leclerc described the chaotic start at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as reinforcing driver concerns about unpredictable power delivery in 2026 Formula 1 cars. Multiple drivers experienced complete throttle failure during formation laps when software bugs caused cars to lose power at low speeds, forcing the race to be delayed by over 90 minutes.
The Ferrari driver explained that he initially thought Max Verstappen was warming up his tires when cars began slowing dramatically, only to discover everyone had the same power unit problem. When Leclerc tried to accelerate, his car was stuck at around 20 kilometers per hour despite pressing the throttle pedal.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis revealed the bug prevented electrical power redeployment when cars reached very low speeds, creating a software loop that left drivers without acceleration. The system had been tested extensively but not under the specific conditions encountered during safety car periods in wet weather.
Leclerc expressed broader concerns about the 2026 power units, noting that drivers can experience 100 horsepower variations when exiting corners without being in complete control. He warned this unpredictability becomes particularly dangerous in low visibility conditions, where sudden power changes could cause major accidents.
The Monegasque acknowledged these problems stem from decisions made years ago and cannot be resolved quickly. While 2030 will bring new regulations and next year will slightly rebalance power toward the internal combustion engine, Leclerc said short-term solutions remain unavailable for the fundamental issues.