A spectator's video from the grandstands shows the unprecedented scene of Formula 1 cars crawling at extremely low speeds during the formation lap at Sepang International Circuit. Multiple vehicles can be seen moving barely faster than walking pace as the software glitch prevented normal acceleration.
Max Verstappen compared the experience to driving Lego cars in promotional events, saying the power output felt identical to those demonstration vehicles. He described seeing cars five-wide on the back straight because drivers couldn't understand what was happening to their throttle response.
The FIA attributed the failures to an unprecedented combination of low engine speeds, wet-weather energy management settings, and Sepang's sector configuration. The governing body had tested the software extensively but not under the specific low-speed conditions encountered during safety car periods in wet weather.
The incident highlighted concerns about Formula 1's 2026 power unit regulations, which critics argue have made the sport overly complex. The software managed electrical deployment automatically but created dangerous situations when environmental factors pushed the system outside its tested parameters.