Formula 1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia descends into chaos as car trouble prompts red flag
Suspected power unit gremlins for a number of cars, including Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, forced Formula 1 race control to suspend the start of a wet Bahrain Grand Prix
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Oct 4, 2026, 8:55 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
The Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia has been red-flagged after several cars suffered power unit gremlins during a wet set of formation laps.
After a heavy tropical thunderstorm, the action at Malaysian Sepang was set to get underway with a number of laps behind the safety car followed by a standing start.
But ahead of F1's first-ever wet event under the 2026 regulations, a number of cars suffered power unit gremlins in the rain, suspected to be software-related.
Initially, polesitter Max Verstappen reported a lack of acceleration from his Red Bull before the Dutchman got going again. Soon after, second-placed Lewis Hamilton reported a similar issue on his Ferrari, with the Briton crawling around the first formation lap as the rest of the field passed him. One lap later, Hamilton too managed to get going again.
More cars, including Racing Bulls man Liam Lawson, Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto and Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas, also appeared to struggle with similar problems, with race control suspending the start procedure and throwing a red flag.
With the grid mixed up as cars streamed into pitlane, race control will revert to the original grid positions when the running is resumed.
Photos from F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia- Sunday
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Sunday, in photos
Formula 1
41
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia start delayed as thunderstorms hit Sepang
Next article Sepang F1 marshal steals the show during Bahrain GP delay: “Absolute icon”
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
Formula 1
Formula 1
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Latest news
Ricky Stenhouse explains his side of Michael McDowell conflict
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
33 min
Ricky Stenhouse explains his side of Michael McDowell conflict
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 1 h
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
Why NASCAR is not penalizing Stenhouse, McDowell for post-race theatrics
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
Why NASCAR is not penalizing Stenhouse, McDowell for post-race theatrics
Dale Jr. explains why he doesn't use 'Earnhardt' in his signature
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 4 h
Dale Jr. explains why he doesn't use 'Earnhardt' in his signature
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe