David Croft has questioned the FIA after the chaotic formation lap scenes at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, describing a software glitch that saw several drivers slowing to a crawl or stopping completely as a “farce”.

F1 and the FIA have new technical regulations this year which saw the introduction of a new power unit which is almost 50 per cent electric.

Sepang saw the first wet conditions of the season, and the FIA later confirmed that a combination of low engine speeds, low grip, wet-weather energy-management settings and the configuration of the circuit had caused an unintended loss of power.

Speaking on the F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports F1 commentator Croft questioned why such a scenario had not been simulated before the season began.

“We had a shakedown in Barcelona and six days of testing in Bahrain before the season started. Why on earth were situations like this not tried out before we went racing?” he said.

“Nikolas Tombazis [FIA single-seater director] says there are bugs all the time with software. Behind the scenes, people are working on those bugs, and what they try and do is do updates during the night time when people aren’t actually using their computers.

“Not during the course of a Grand Prix, when someone has now suddenly realised we’ve got a situation on our hands.

“Before the start of the race, it looked like it was the day where we were going to break the duck and have some wet weather running.

“We’ve had dry weather all the time, so we’ve had plenty of time to simulate this, to stop it happening in front of hundreds of millions of people during the course of a race.

“This falls on the FIA. I’m sorry, but you are the governing body. You are supposed to have the upper hand when it comes to these rules and regulations, the directives, the power units and everything.

“You weren’t on top of things when it came to that race, and it was a farce.”

When the drivers left the pit lane following a rain-delayed start, several almost ground to a halt, including race leader Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, with numerous other drivers in the midfield also experiencing issues.

The unusual scenes left spectators and viewers unsure what was happening, with the aborted start followed by a lengthy wait while the problem was resolved.

The FIA said its emergency software fix took around 20 minutes to issue and install, although the overall disruption was considerably longer.

“We had no idea why those cars were going so slowly,” Croft said. “We had no idea why we were waiting around for 40 minutes to get a race on.

“There’s a lot going on, and we need to understand and appreciate that the FIA are trying to keep across a million and one different things.

“But sometimes taking a step back, identifying issues that could come during a season, during a scenario, and taking preventative measures is the best way forward, rather than just trying to react on the spur of the moment.

“I want to see a bit more strategic thinking when it comes to these sorts of issues.

“Let’s go through other simulations, FIA, and other things that could go wrong with these power units. Let’s get the bugs fixed and get the simulations in place now.”

Tombazis acknowledged after the race that the software had not been tested sufficiently in the specific conditions encountered at Sepang.

The FIA added that the issue had not been detected during testing or the laps to the grid and has promised a full review with the teams and power-unit manufacturers.

The controversy ultimately overshadowed what became an eventful and competitive Grand Prix as Verstappen emerged victorious, with Kimi Antonelli second and Hamilton completing the podium after a dramatic recovery.

“I’m just really frustrated that I’ve come away from Sepang – a brilliant weekend commentating, talking about a great track, brilliant drivers, some sensational racing – and what’s dominating the headlines is F1 farce because we see cars slowing down and stopping,” Croft added.

“I don’t want that for the sport that I love. I actually want people to be talking about great racing.

“That’s what we should be talking about, but these issues need addressing.”

Sky Sports F1’s live Singapore GP Sprint weekend schedule

Thursday October 8
11am: Drivers’ Press Conference
2pm: Paddock Uncut

Friday October 9
9am: Singapore GP Practice (session starts at 9.30am)*
11.30am: Team Bosses’ Press Conference
1pm: Singapore GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 1.30pm)*

Saturday October 10
9am: Singapore GP Sprint build-up*
10am: Singapore GP SPRINT*
1pm: Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
2pm: SINGAPORE GP QUALIFYING*
4pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday October 11
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Singapore GP build-up
1pm: THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Singapore GP reaction
4pm: Ted’s Notebook

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 heads straight to Singapore for the last Sprint weekend of the season with track action starting this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime

Martin O’Neill has confirmed his decision to stay on as Celtic manager after reflecting on his future over the international break.

The Celtic manager admitted before the international break that he would consider his future after three consecutive defeats and talk to the board.

The 74-year-old has now declared himself up for the challenge after two defeats by Rangers sandwiched a Europa League setback against Ferencvaros.

When asked how ready and determined he was to lead the team forward, O’Neill told the club’s Celtic Player: “I am. I’m extremely prepared for it.

“We had a difficult week. It can happen, you can lose to your arch-rivals, you can lose a European game.

“It’s certainly not the end of the world, as it seemed to be described. But (I’m) ready to go.

“I did think I would take a little bit of time and it didn’t take me that much time to think about it.

“I want to lead the club, I want to try and win the league, which is what we set out to do, and just as determined now as ever before.

“It was a time of reflection for a moment or two and, yes, some things that you think about.

“But overall, I’m back, I’m raring to go and the team’s ready.”

Sunday 11th October 11:00am


Kick off 12:00pm

O’Neill, whose side face Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, added: “What you try and do is analyse the things that you’ve done or perhaps the things that you haven’t done.

“Throughout my managerial time, I’ve been exactly that. I think I look to myself, first of all. Maybe a wee bit different as a player, because I think I used to blame every other player for my own bad performance. But as a manager, you’ve got to look at yourself.

“And if you feel as if something has dropped away, of course you have to analyse it.

“Now, there wasn’t a great deal in some of the games. If we get the equaliser just after half-time in the Rangers game, totally different ball game, totally different. But it wasn’t to be. So you have to reflect on a few things like that.

“But overall, did the reflection, did all of that and a bit of self-analysing and just prepared for the battle.”

O’Neill also revealed that Jota had played 45 minutes of a training-ground friendly against Falkirk on Friday, as the Portuguese winger steps up his comeback attempts following 18 months out with a knee injury.

The Celtic manager has also been encouraged by Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand getting back on the training pitch following hamstring injuries.

O’Neill added he would assess the fitness of Hyun-Jun Yang on Friday after the South Korea winger experienced hamstring trouble on international duty.

Analysis: Celtic were always calm over O’Neill future

Sky Sports News’ Anthony Joseph:

Martin O’Neill was never going to be sacked by Celtic after three humiliating defeats in one week before the international break – but there was a real potential of him walking away from the job.

After losing 1-0 at home to Rangers on September 20, O’Neill said he would take some time to think about whether he would continue as manager of the club.

Those comments sparked widespread reports and supporter speculation that the 74-year-old was on the verge of resigning.

Sky Sports News understands Celtic have always remained calm about the situation, despite the recent results. There was no appetite to pull the trigger themselves, especially when the teams are sitting at the top of the league.

That was proven when Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson backed O’Neill in a statement announcing the club’s latest financial results. He said: “We will now come together and support Martin and the players, as we focus our efforts on achieving success domestically and in the Europa League.”

The ball has been completely in O’Neill’s court and – as he has said today – he very quickly indicated his intention and desire to stay.

Celtic face a tricky next five games back – Motherwell away (live on Sky Sports), Benfica away, Hearts at home (live on Sky Sports), Celta Vigo at home and Hibernian away (live on Sky Sports).

It’s going to be an interesting month ahead for O’Neill and Celtic.

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence over his Portugal walkout in a lengthy statement in which he says he is not retiring from the national team.

The 41-year-old, whose actions had raised doubts over his international future, accused Portugal’s new head coach Jorge Jesus of broken promises in a near 2,000-word statement to his 679 million Instagram followers.

Addressing the uncertainty over his Portugal future, the Al Nassr forward said: “If I am physically well, playing for my club, with goals I hope, after serving the suspension that may be applied to me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team.”

Portugal boss Jesus, who previously denied there was a rift between him and his captain, said on Sunday the door was still open for Ronaldo to return to the national team.

However, the future of Portugal’s record goalscorer and appearance-maker, whose 146 goals in 234 international caps is the most of any men’s player in history, is far from clear following his decision to air his grievances in public.

Ronaldo, who reveals in his statement that he wrote his international retirement letter after the World Cup, has apologised for his actions but asked the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him and spare him any leniency.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner delivered his statement, which spanned 11 slides on Instagram, a matter of hours before his great rival Lionel Messi was due to bid farewell to international football in an emotional send-off in Argentina.

Sky Sports News has approached the Portuguese Football Federation for comment.

‘The manager had broken his word to me’ – Ronaldo

Ronaldo left the national team squad in Copenhagen on the eve of a Nations League fixture against Denmark after he was an unused substitute for a 2-1 win away to Norway on September 27.

The Portugal captain chose not to applaud the travelling fans with his team-mates, for which he apologises in his statement, and reports subsequently emerged of a rift between Ronaldo and Jesus.

Ronaldo claims in his statement that Jesus had told him he would play 30 minutes against Norway on the day of the game only to go back on his word.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said. “The coach had broken his word to me.”

On failing to show his appreciation to the fans, Ronaldo added: “At the end of the match I only wanted everything to finish with the victory and to be alone. A failing that is solely my responsibility and that should not have happened.

“I apologise to the Portuguese who supported us intensely there, I apologise to the fans, and I apologise to those who, without being Portuguese, may have travelled there to see me and whom I may have disappointed.”

The eight points Jesus ‘agreed’ to say to the media

Ronaldo and Jesus, who used to work together at Al Nassr, subsequently held a meeting, which was also attended by the sporting director of the Saudi Pro League club, Simao Coutinho.

According to Ronaldo’s statement, Jesus agreed to clarify the situation and say that his captain never demanded minutes and that it was a mistake to let him warm up without bringing him on.

Ronaldo says an eight-point document was drawn up to summarise what had been discussed in a subsequent meeting between Jesus, Al Nassr sporting director Coutinho and Tiago Craveiro, the player’s strategic adviser.

However, Ronaldo felt the Portugal head coach’s press conference bore no reflection to the conversation they had shared, which he claims ended in Jesus asking him for a hug.

“I heard expressions and an aggressiveness that I do not believe I deserved, an attitude of ‘I want, I can and I command’ that he never showed me, not even remotely, in private the day before,” said Ronaldo.

He added: “It was the second time he had broken his word to me. I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

Jesus denied that any such agreement had been made with the player in a later press conference.

Ronaldo’s apologies and Portugal farewell ‘promise’

Ronaldo admitted he never should have left the Portugal camp “despite the absolute breach of trust” from Jesus.

“Never, at any moment, have I interfered in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager in almost 25 years of career,” said Ronaldo. “I accept, for better or worse, what they propose that I do. I respect the decision, and when they break their word to me, I feel that my place is not there.”

He added: “I felt that, from that point on, my remaining would only harm the working group, and I did what I have always said I would do if I did not feel useful: I packed my bags and left.”

Ronaldo apologised to his team-mates and the Portuguese people over his departure from the squad and said he will accept whatever punishment is handed down to him by the Portuguese Football Federation.

The forward said he hopes his international career will not be limited to a farewell but promised he would end his Portugal career in the right way.

Ronaldo added: “I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that. But when I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing.

“That is what I thought on the day I was given the news of my father’s death. I was at a camp with our national team and I decided to stay there until the end of the match the following day. I did for the country what I would never do for any club.”

How Ronaldo nearly retired from international football

Ronaldo publicly admitted earlier in this international break that he considered retiring from international football following the World Cup.

His statement on Instagram reveals that he had written his retirement statement only to be talked out of it by the president of the Portuguese Football Federation Pedro Proença on the plane back from North America.

Ronaldo says Proença then asked him for his opinion on his former head coach at Al Nassr Jesus becoming Portugal’s next manager.

“I told [him] that, in my opinion, it would be the right choice,” Ronaldo said. “That is why, on the day the current head coach was presented, I was genuinely happy with the choice. It was the right option, as the results are confirming.”