SEPANG, Malaysia (AP) — The start has been delayed again after several cars seemed to experience technical problems on the formation lap following heavy rain as Formula 1 holds its Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Heavy rain delayed the formation lap by 40 minutes and when it eventually got under way, Lewis Hamilton went slowly and briefly stopped on track before he got going again. Soon after, the start procedure was suspended.
“I’m pressing the throttle
and nothing’s happening," he told the Ferrari team, who said they were investigating a software problem.
Hamilton was due to start second on the grid behind Max Verstappen, who also complained to the Red Bull team of acceleration issues.
This is due to be the first wet-weather race for F1 in 2026. This year's cars depend heavily on complex algorithms to use their electrical hybrid power.
The race was relocated because of the Iran war, becoming F1's first event at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia since 2017.
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