Formula 1 is facing intense scrutiny following a chaotic and drama-filled weekend at Sepang. Max Verstappen has led driver criticism regarding the shambolic start procedures that caused massive delays during Sunday's race. The event had already been pushed back due to a heavy tropical thunderstorm before descending into unprecedented scenes as bizarre technical gremlins plagued multiple cars on the formation lap.
Operating under the newly introduced 2026 engine regulations in wet conditions for the first time, both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were spotted crawling around the circuit as power unit issues surfaced. With several cars grinding to a halt on track, the start procedure was ultimately delayed by one hour and forty minutes while teams scrambled to implement software fixes.
“That’s the problem that we have. You know, these engines are so complicated and a lot of software is implemented,” Max Verstappen stated when reflecting on the drama that saw his Red Bull RB22 lose momentum and speed unexpectedly during the formation lap before software cycles kicked in.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton was forced to stop his Ferrari on the main straight to perform an emergency restart—an ordeal the seven-time world champion admitted he had never encountered across his extensive career, joking that it felt like driving a toy LEGO car. Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli also weighed in, describing the formation lap as completely insane as drivers struggled to comprehend the erratic behavior of their machinery.
The FIA later explained that teams were issued updated software packages to apply necessary adjustments before the race could safely get underway. However, drivers like Carlos Sainz argued that the incident highlights how overly complex modern power unit regulations have become, urging the sport to evaluate its technical direction for the future.
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