During a chaotic rain-affected Bahrain Grand Prix, the championship faced severe technical issues. Top drivers expressed their dissatisfaction with the complex engine regulations after a software glitch caused widespread power loss on track.
Max Verstappen
Although Max Verstappen secured his 72nd career grand prix victory and the first win for Red Bull's in-house powertrain project, the Dutch driver was left frustrated by a bizarre glitch that struck when rain hit the track ahead of the race.
Multiple drivers, including Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, encountered major issues on the formation lap. The famous quote comparing the power units to plastic bricks originally came from Lewis Hamilton due to an FIA transcription error.
"That's the problem that we have," Max Verstappen said during the post-race press conference when asked about the engine complications in wet conditions. "These engines are so complicated and a lot of software is implemented." Lewis Hamilton added, "It was like the LEGO race. At some point we were five-wide on the straight because we couldn't understand what was going on."
Max Verstappen explained that the issue stemmed from engine software. "When you go too low in speed and too low RPM, for whatever reason, then it just bogs down. And normally it takes one or two seconds and it comes back," he said. The FIA and power unit manufacturers are set to undertake a full review of the issue.
Max Verstappen currently sits 6th in the drivers' standings with 163 points, while Lewis Hamilton holds 3rd place with 199 points.
Source: Motorsport
