The FIA has admitted that a “human error” affected qualifying for the final sprint race of the Formula 1 season, leaving several drivers at a disadvantage and prompting a furious response from Carlos Sainz.
The latest technical controversy comes less than a week after the chaotic Malaysian Grand Prix, raising further questions about the consistency of race control and the sport’s software systems.
FIA acknowledges qualifying error after red flag
In a statement issued just over an hour after qualifying, the FIA confirmed that a mistake had affected the operation of the overtaking mode following a red flag during Q1.
The interruption was triggered by a heavy crash involving Sergio Perez, whose Cadillac suffered significant front-wing damage. Debris was scattered across the circuit, forcing race control to suspend the session.
According to the FIA, the overtaking mode was initially unavailable when qualifying resumed. The governing body subsequently activated the system for 27 seconds before switching it off again.
The FIA acknowledged that the mistake had affected competitors differently, depending on when they completed their laps and their positions on track.
It described the incident as a “regrettable human error” and admitted that the consequences had influenced the performance of certain cars.
Sainz criticises FIA over unequal performance
Carlos Sainz was among the drivers most frustrated by the incident. The Williams driver endured a difficult session, finishing last, and questioned why qualifying had been allowed to continue when competitors did not have access to the same performance advantage.
“Half the cars completed a lap with an engine half a second faster than the others. There was another software problem,” Sainz said.
The Spaniard was particularly critical of the FIA’s decision-making, arguing that the issue compromised sporting fairness.
“For whatever reason, the FIA didn’t opt for sporting fairness and agreed to conduct qualifying with half the cars having higher performance.”
Sainz also questioned why the governing body appeared to apply different approaches depending on which drivers were affected and when the incident occurred.
His comments added to the pressure on the FIA following another weekend in which technical systems and race procedures had become a major talking point.
Malaysian Grand Prix problems still fresh
Sainz’s frustration was also shaped by events at the Malaysian Grand Prix the previous weekend, when a separate software-related problem caused significant disruption before the race.
Special settings designed for wet conditions reportedly prevented numerous cars from accelerating properly on the formation lap. Some struggled to get moving, while others came to a complete stop.
The race could only proceed after a software adjustment, with the start delayed by approximately 90 minutes.
The two incidents involved different circumstances, but their close timing has intensified scrutiny of the systems used to manage modern Formula 1 machinery.
FIA faces renewed questions over sporting fairness
Formula 1 relies on increasingly sophisticated electronic systems to regulate car performance and maintain consistent operating conditions across the field. When those systems fail or are activated inconsistently, the consequences can extend beyond technical inconvenience and directly influence competitive outcomes.
The FIA’s admission that the qualifying error affected certain cars provides an acknowledgment of the problem, but it does not remove the questions raised by Sainz.
The central issue is whether drivers were given an equal opportunity to set their fastest laps and whether the governing body could have taken steps to minimise the competitive impact once the problem became apparent.
With the Malaysian Grand Prix disruption still fresh, the latest incident represents another unwelcome distraction for Formula 1. The FIA has acknowledged the mistake, but its handling of the situation is likely to remain a subject of debate among teams and drivers.
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