FIA Admits 'Human Error' Affected Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying
The FIA has acknowledged a 'human error' in race control that affected Sprint Qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix. Some cars were unable to use Overtake Mode, impacting their performance.
The FIA has come forward with a statement regarding a 'human error' that marred the Sprint Qualifying session at the Singapore Grand Prix. During the early stages, a glitch in the timing system led to some teams running with less power than others, as they were unable to access Overtake Mode.
This mode, a feature introduced in the 2026 regulations, allows drivers to use an additional 0.5mJ of energy per lap, providing a significant boost. However, as several team insiders have confirmed, not all cars benefited from this due to the error.
The confusion began when a message on the timing screens during SQ1 incorrectly advised that Overtake Mode was available. According to the official timing system, the message was sent at 20:52:08 local time, only for a correction to follow 28 seconds later, after the chequered flag had fallen.
Carlos Sainz, among those affected, was notably vocal after being knocked out in SQ1, leaving him 22nd and last. The timing issues prompted a delay to the start of SQ2 while the FIA worked to resolve the situation. An update was issued explaining the delay: "Start of SQ2 will be delayed due to an issue with timing systems, some lap times had not been registered. That is now resolved and the current timings are considered correct. We are investigating whether we can proceed with the rest of the session."
The session eventually resumed at 21:11 local time, but the damage was done for six drivers, including Esteban Ocon, Arvid Lindblad, Lance Stroll, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, and Sainz, who were all eliminated.
In their post-session statement, the FIA clarified: "During the first period of Sprint Qualifying, there was a human error in Race Control unrelated to the timing issue also encountered in SQ1. This issue meant Overtake Mode was not available after the red flag period during SQ1. When it became apparent that Overtake Mode was not active after the restart, it was then activated for a period of 27 seconds before being deactivated again."
The FIA acknowledged that this mistake impacted certain cars' performance based on their timing and position on the track. Fortunately, the second and third periods of Sprint Qualifying were unaffected by this hiccup.