The FIA has confirmed further software changes following its investigation into the chaotic start to last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
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| The FIA will introduce further software changes to prevent similar issues in wet weather that happened in Sepang. Image: XPB Images |
The governing body will reuse the emergency settings introduced at Sepang if similar wet weather is forecast for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, before issuing another software update for the United States Grand Prix on October 25.
The decision follows the extraordinary scenes before Sunday’s race, when several cars experienced major power delivery problems while circulating behind the Safety Car.
Already delayed by 40 minutes because of heavy rain, the start procedure was abandoned after drivers struggled to accelerate from low speeds, with some coming to a complete stop on the circuit.
The FIA has now completed its investigation, identifying the circumstances that caused the software failure and left several drivers unable to accelerate normally.
“The review concluded that some cars running on low engine RPM in certain circuit sectors where a 250kW power reduction was applied experienced a loss of power beyond the original intent and that could not be recovered in those sectors,” the FIA said.
With turbocharger speeds falling as the cars slowed, the affected engines were producing less power, while restrictions on electrical deployment prevented the electric motors from compensating for the shortfall.
The investigation also examined how wet-weather energy restrictions could be managed differently in future, alongside data supplied by teams and power unit manufacturers.
The FIA said its engineers had identified the problem and issued revised software settings within five minutes of the start procedure being halted.
Further technical guidance followed 13 minutes later, with every team and power unit manufacturer completing the changes within half an hour of the initial release.
The changes lifted the relevant energy restrictions at Sepang and resolved the problem ahead of the eventual race start.
The FIA also addressed suggestions that the original software had been deployed without testing.
Although single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis acknowledged after the race that the particular conditions encountered at Sepang had not been replicated beforehand, the governing body said the system had been assessed before the event.
Teams and power unit manufacturers had undertaken simulations, with the software also used during the opening practice sessions at the Belgian and Dutch Grands Prix.
Neither session revealed the problem, which only emerged when the field travelled at exceptionally low speeds during the disrupted formation laps in Malaysia.
The review has now prompted a wider examination of how such software can be tested more effectively, particularly given the limited opportunities to recreate the conditions in which it must operate.
“The FIA, together with the teams and Power Unit Manufacturers (PUMs), will continue to strengthen Power Unit software testing and verification capabilities, enhancing the overall validation process through independent assessment and collaborative feedback, including input from the supplier of the standardised Electronics Control Unit (ECU),” it said.
The weather forecast for Singapore has a possibility of rain on Sunday for the race, with clear conditions expected across the other two days.
- Ben Waterworth
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