The attempted start of the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang is abandoned after several cars stall on wet formation laps, following a 40‑minute rain delay in heavy showers.

A first live test of the 2026 power unit rules in rain exposes calibration gaps. Two safety car formation laps on intermediates precede the cascade of issues.

Leader Max Verstappen slows unexpectedly with a reported problem, disrupting rhythm at the front. His return to Sepang therefore starts with setbacks rather than control.

Lewis Hamilton, starting second for Ferrari, crawls then stops on the pit straight. He reports throttle input without response, restarts, and returns to the pits under the red flag.

Other Ferrari‑powered cars show symptoms. Esteban Ocon’s Haas and Valtteri Bottas’s Cadillac also halt on track. Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls suffers a sluggish getaway yet continues running.

Isack Hadjar aquaplanes at Turn 3 but recovers, retaining eighth. The field returns to the pitlane in mixed order as the red flag neutralizes proceedings.

Confusion compounds when drivers avoid overtaking under the safety car, queuing behind slower cars. Large gaps appear, and the safety car circulates mid‑pack rather than leading.

Officials confirm a restart using the original grid. That preserves Hamilton’s second place. Teams are briefed on the grid position protocol for Sepang to prevent further disputes.

Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord says the FIA distributes revised software parameters across the grid to improve wet‑weather behavior. Teams load updates before the next start attempt.

The episode underlines vulnerabilities in throttle application, anti‑stall logic, and hybrid deployment when grip is marginal. The breadth of symptoms suggests a software‑centric issue, not isolated mechanical failures.

Competitive implications are significant. With the order reset, strategy pivots to tyre choices, out‑lap procedures, and power‑unit mapping at Sepang’s demanding circuit.

Verstappen and Hamilton both encounter power unit problems, shaping the title narrative early. Context on the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend frames the challenge as the race resumes.

Visual Summary

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.