F1 in Bahrain... in Malaysia: The race needed a software update to start
A software bug waylaid half the field and required a race reboot.
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix faced an unusual challenge - torrential rain. However, this race was not held in Bahrain due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Instead, it took place at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, a track designed by Herman Tilke known for its long straights and challenging tropical weather conditions.
The heavy rain arrived about half an hour before the scheduled start time, significantly delaying the event. The sport has two types of tires designed for wet conditions - one with deeper grooves and another with shallower ones. The deep groove tire is useful for circulating behind the safety car due to high spray and slow lap times, while the intermediate tire, with shallower grooves, is suitable for racing on damp but not soaked tracks. However, it tends to overheat and degrade quickly as the track dries.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
