Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Lewis Hamilton bemused after F1 'Lego race'
Formula 1 drivers Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton reported a software bug that severely impacted car performance during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The glitch, triggered by wet conditions, caused cars to crawl at low speeds, leading drivers to jokingly refer to the event as a 'Lego race'.
Why it matters
This incident underscores the vulnerability of advanced racing technology to software bugs, impacting the integrity and spectacle of professional sports.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Lewis Hamilton's car lost all of its speed just before the race began
F1 Correspondent Published 4 October 2026 Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton likened the effects of a software bug that affected multiple cars before the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia to a "Lego race".
The problem led to several cars, including those of the two multiple world champions who were sharing the front row of the grid, not working in the wet conditions that preceded the race.
A tropical downpour delayed attempts to get the grand prix under way for the best part of an hour. And when the cars set off on formation laps behind a safety car to test the conditions, audiences were treated to the bizarre sight of many of them struggling to move.
Also covering this story
20 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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