Five days after the embarrassment of multiple cars stopping on the formation lap in Sepang, Formula 1 was struck by another technical glitch in Singapore.

This time a “human error” meant some drivers had less power than their rivals during the first round of qualifying for the sprint race. The FIA admitted this resulted in some drivers being left at a disadvantage.

Reader @Salty says this shows Formula 1’s electronics systems are too intrusive and power delivery should be exclusively under the control of the drivers and teams:

Energy deployment needs to be solely the provenance of the driver’s right foot. I don’t want the circuit mapping skills of an errant piece of software to continue impinging on F1.

That is not racing. It isn’t better, smarter or more capable than any one of the 22 drivers on the grid at the moment. It does not ‘improve the show’, it has made it look stilted and awkward.

If some manufacturers won’t race without electric assisted systems, they shouldn’t be looking at F1. There are plenty of car categories for driving with active suspension, battery recovery and deployment and non-driver power deployment. Bumper car and driverless taxi companies need not apply.

We have seen multiple instances this season of the driver being left in the cockpit of an F1 car without full control of the throttle. Bin it before it makes another stupid decision and someone dies.

Join the original discussion here:

FIA confirms some drivers lost power in qualifying due to Overtake Mode error

Browse all Formula 1 articles