FIA admits 'human error' created power disparity in Singapore Sprint Qualifying

The FIA confirmed that a human error during the first segment of Singapore’s Sprint Qualifying on Friday caused an unintended power advantage for a subset of drivers. After a red‑flag interruption triggered by debris from Sergio Pérez’s Cadillac, the governing body failed to reactivate Overtake Mode—a supplemental half‑megajoule boost that raises the permissible speed limit from 180 mph to 209 mph—when the session resumed. The mode was briefly reinstated for only 27 seconds before being switched off again, meaning drivers who were on flying laps during that window benefited from roughly half a second faster lap times. The error affected only the opening part of Sprint Qualifying; the second and third phases proceeded without the discrepancy. Williams’ Carlos Sainz, one of the six drivers eliminated after SQ1, noted that half the field enjoyed the extra power, while the other half did not.

The incident adds to a string of technical mishaps that have plagued recent Formula 1 weekends, coming just five days after a software glitch at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia that left several cars stalled or severely under‑powered. Overtake Mode, normally available throughout qualifying and used in races to facilitate overtaking, is intended to be active after any red‑flag restart. The FIA’s statement acknowledged that the brief activation “had an impact on the performance of certain cars based on the timing of their run and their position around the lap,” though it insisted the timing issue observed elsewhere was unrelated. Williams petitioned for all teams to be allowed into SQ2, a request that was denied, and no formal protests are expected despite the perceived inequity.

Despite the controversy, the main championship contenders advanced to SQ2, with Max Verstappen ultimately securing Sprint pole ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Aston Martin’s sporting director Andy Stephenson said the team is seeking clarification from race control but is not filing a protest, focusing instead on understanding the tyre‑out‑lap implications of the power loss. Drivers reported being unable to execute their planned out‑laps due to the missing boost, which distorted their overall strategy and calculations. The session’s irregularities will likely fuel ongoing debate about the consistency of FIA’s procedural controls as the season concludes with the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

⚡ Effects Interpreter