F1 looks amateurish and incompetent after farcical scenes in Sepang
Formula One faced significant criticism after a race in Sepang was marred by software failures during heavy rain. Drivers reported that the cars' power-delivery systems were unable to handle the wet-weather conditions, leading to a chaotic start.
Why it matters
Technical failures in high-stakes sports highlight the risks of over-relying on complex software in unpredictable environments.
Heavy rain delayed the race in Sepang and led to chaos as software in the cars was unable to cope with the conditions./Getty Images Heavy rain delayed the race in Sepang and led to chaos as software in the cars was unable to cope with the conditions./Getty Images Formula One 2026 Analysis F1 looks amateurish and incompetent after farcical scenes in Sepang Giles Richards Review is under way, but there will be no quick fix for misconceived regulations that resulted in cars being unable to run in the rain
Formula One has gone to no little pains this season in insisting the new format is more popular than ever, despite overwhelming disapproval from the drivers regarding engine regulations. In short, there is nothing to see here.
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