Sainz Slams FIA Over Power Glitch in Singapore Sprint Qualifying

Carlos Sainz has voiced strong criticism toward the FIA after a race control oversight led to inconsistent power deployment during the first session of Singapore's Sprint Qualifying. The error meant some drivers had access to Overtake Mode while others did not, compromising the competitive integrity of the session and leaving several drivers on the wrong side of the glitch.

Why it matters:

This incident highlights a recurring pattern of operational and software failures within the FIA's race control. In a sport decided by thousandths of a second, any discrepancy in power availability undermines the principle of sporting equity. When administrative errors dictate who progresses through qualifying, it damages the credibility of the results and creates unnecessary volatility for the teams.

The Details:

• The Trigger: The issue began following a red flag caused by Sergio Perez's Cadillac crash. While Overtake Mode is typically disabled during red flags, officials failed to restore it when the session resumed.
• The Glitch: After the mistake was identified, the system was switched back on for only 27 seconds before being disabled again. This created a window where availability depended entirely on a driver's position on the lap.
• Driver Impact: Carlos Sainz, qualifying 22nd for Williams, claimed the power difference cost him approximately half a second. Aston Martin similarly believes Lance Stroll would have reached SQ2 without the interference.
• Systemic Failure: The chaos was compounded by a separate timing system failure that failed to register several lap times, forcing a 15-minute delay before SQ2 could commence.

The Big Picture:

This is not an isolated event. The 2026 season has been plagued by technical instability, most notably the major software failure during the Bahrain GP in Malaysia. That incident, which hindered acceleration during a wet start, prompted emergency adjustments at Sepang. The repeat of such errors in Singapore suggests a deeper struggle for the governing body to manage the complexities of current race control software.

What's next:

The FIA is now under intense pressure to ensure these glitches do not migrate to the main race events. While the governing body has acknowledged the 'human error,' the focus now shifts to the upcoming United States Grand Prix, where further software updates are expected to be implemented to prevent another administrative collapse on track.