How Verstappen's slow formation lap set off the FIA's 60-second lockdown at Sepang

Max Verstappen encountered an issue during the formation laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix that triggered the FIA's 60-second lockdown. His car lost power on Turn 9, which led to an anti-cheat safeguard shutting down the electrics for 60 seconds. The FIA has explained the basics of the software failure, but there is more to the story.

Verstappen was the first to struggle for power while following the safety car, and several other cars followed suit. The problem originated in the wet-weather engine mode, which uses a capped electrical deployment of 250kW compared to 350kW in dry conditions. This 250kW reduction applies in certain lap sectors, including Turn 9, where the electric power does not need to be gradually ramped down.

When the cars slowed to a halt behind the safety car, boost pressure dropped, and the MGU-K (motor generator unit - kinetic) could not compensate, leading to the bug's activation. The lockdown mode, called continuous offset, was introduced to prevent teams from deliberately shutting down the MGU-K. This resulted in drivers experiencing a throttle that felt disconnected as they pressed the pedal, while the engine idled.

The uneven spread of the issue across the field made it appear as though certain manufacturers were more affected than others. FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis attributed this to the cars' low speeds at different moments during the formation lap, causing a "concertina effect." Mercedes-powered cars were not at a technical advantage, as the problem moved through the field unevenly.

Ultimately, the software update lifted the energy limits in the affected minisectors and overrode the automatic power reductions.