All articles tagged with #fia
The 2026 Formula 1 season faced a critical failure during the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, where a software bug in the new power units caused cars to lose power during wet-weather formation laps. The incident, which forced a 53-minute delay and a standing start, highlighted the excessive complexity of the new regulations and sparked debate about the balance between driver control and electronic management.
Retired Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko stated in an interview with oe24 that the return to turbocharged V8 engines for the 2030 season is a 'done deal.' This assertion follows a chaotic start to the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, held at Sepang, Malaysia, where a software bug in the new power units caused cars to stall during wet-weather formation laps. The incident, which delayed the race by 48 minutes, has intensified criticism of the current 50/50 hybrid regulations and accelerated discussions on future technical rules.
The FIA issued an official apology after a software bug in the 2026 power units caused multiple cars to stall during the formation lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The incident, which occurred in wet conditions, led to a significant delay and required an emergency software update. FIA official Nikolas Tombazis acknowledged that the software was not adequately tested for low-speed wet scenarios, though he emphasized the rapid response time of the technical team.
The FIA confirmed that a software bug in the power unit caused multiple F1 cars to stall during the formation lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, leading to a 53-minute delay. FIA official Nikolas Tombazis admitted the issue stemmed from insufficient testing in wet conditions, a problem exacerbated by the sport's new 47% electrical power regulations. While drivers like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris criticized the electronic complexity, the FIA stated the fix was implemented within 20 minutes.
A critical software bug in the power unit controller caused multiple F1 cars to stall on the formation lap at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, delaying the start by 50 minutes. Drivers, including Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, criticized the 2026 regulations' heavy reliance on electronics, with some calling the incident 'totally unacceptable.'
Lando Norris called for a race ban for Franco Colapinto after the Argentine’s restart error at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix eliminated both Alpine drivers and the world champion. While Colapinto apologized and accepted a grid penalty, race winner George Russell and Max Verstappen argued that a ban was too harsh for an accident caused by cold tires and a small mistake.
FIA stewards issued reprimands to Carlos Sainz and Arvid Lindblad for separate incidents during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix’s final practice session. Sainz was penalized for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags, while Lindblad was cited for leaving the track at Turn 15 to gain positions. Both drivers will start the race from their qualifying positions, with Sainz in ninth and Lindblad in 15th.
Spanish Grand Prix organizers in Madrid say they will modify the Madring circuit for 2027 to boost overtaking after FIA recommendations and driver feedback highlighted a lack of action during the debut weekend. The 5.4km track around IFEMA drew praise for facilities but was criticized for limited passing opportunities, especially at Turn 5 and due to a long pit lane. FIA guidance and driver input, including Lando Norris’s suggestions for longer straights and wider entries, indicate significant changes are possible, with the northern, blank-sheet section offering space for reconfiguration ahead of the next event.
The FIA Court of Appeal dismissed Flavio Briatore's claim that a judge in the Alpine-Gasly case was biased due to links with McLaren, reiterating judges’ independence and disclosure duties. Briatore had argued one official attended a charity event with McLaren connections; the FIA defended the process and allowed no objections to the proceedings. The court’s ruling kept Gasly in seventh and elevated three Red Bull drivers and one McLaren driver in the final order, prompting strong rebukes from McLaren as Briatore’s allegations were publicly aired. Andrea Stella of McLaren emphasized the hearing's high standards and rejected the accusations.
The FIA International Court of Appeal reinstated Pierre Gasly’s two five-second penalties from the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix after a miscalibrated pit-lane speed loop, dropping Gasly from P3 to P7 and promoting Isack Hadjar to P3; McLaren and Red Bull had appealed, arguing the ruling created inequity. Alpine expressed disappointment but accepted the decision. As a result, Hadjar, Piastri, Lawson and Lindblad each gain three points, while Gasly loses nine points, reshaping the drivers' standings ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
The FIA has declared a Heat Hazard for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza amid a heatwave, enabling drivers to choose between wearing cooling vests or having 0.5kg ballast attached to their cars; temperatures are forecast to exceed 31C over the weekend, with mid-30s highs and Sunday’s race at 3pm local time.
FIA’s ADUO evaluation for 2026 confirms Red Bull-Ford's internal-combustion engine as the most powerful in F1 across the first 11 races; Mercedes trails by about 2–4%, with Audi, Ferrari and Honda more than 4% off the pace. The Dutch GP-era Audi powertrain was not included in this ranking, and no new homologations were awarded in this cycle. FIA officials say the analysis is robust, but ADUO only assesses the ICE in the hybrid PU, leaving broader performance questions to future reviews. Red Bull and its rivals have publicly debated the results, with mentions of straight-line speed advantages and ongoing dissatisfaction with the current ADUO framework.
The FIA’s latest ADUO evaluation confirms Red Bull-Ford as the most powerful F1 power unit, with Mercedes 2-4% down and Audi, Ferrari and Honda more than 4% behind; no new homologations were granted in this cycle, and while Mercedes had token allowances earlier, the standings remain unchanged. The ADUO system, which only considers the internal-combustion engine, has faced criticism, and Red Bull’s advantage on the straight was noted as debate builds ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
The FIA is digitising over two million documents on the history of land‑speed records, revealing hand‑written notes and correspondence that trace the sport’s dangerous, high‑stakes evolution. Meanwhile, Andy Green’s JCB Hydromax hydrogen car set a 406.320 mph FIA land‑speed record at Bonneville, continuing a lineage that began with pioneers like Jenatzy and Campbell and later included jet/rocket eras led by Breedlove and Arfons—demonstrating a century of daring, innovation and rivalry in the quest for ever greater speeds.
The FIA says a software error caused conflicting safety-car messages at the British Grand Prix, leading to a final-lap finish that followed the unlapping procedure. With the correct rules observed, Charles Leclerc won, George Russell finished second after Mercedes’ tyre choices, and Lewis Hamilton remains under investigation for an earlier yellow-flag infringement; the episode echoes the controversy surrounding Abu Dhabi 2021.