FIA Acknowledges Error Impacting Singapore Sprint Qualifying

The FIA has recognized that a mistake by Race Control impacted the electrical deployment for several cars during the initial phase of Sprint Qualifying in Singapore.

This issue arose after Sergio Perez collided with the barrier at Turn 5, leading to a red flag for debris clearance. When the session resumed, the overtake mode, which provides additional electrical energy for qualifying laps, was not available. Race Control briefly activated this mode for 27 seconds before deactivating it again, resulting in varied effects for drivers depending on their position on the track.

The FIA attributed the problem to human error in Race Control and noted that it affected the performance of certain cars. However, the governing body stated that subsequent sessions, SQ2 and SQ3, were not impacted. Carlos Sainz, who finished last in SQ1, reported issues with braking and a loss of power during his flying lap, which he initially thought was due to a software failure. The final grid for the Sprint remained unchanged, with Max Verstappen securing pole position.