Liam Lawson has revealed that he had no radio communication with his team during the formation lap confusion at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
When the race finally got going following a weather-related delay, several cars stopped on the track as they appeared to lose power behind the safety car.
The FIA has since clarified that a software bug, brought about by a range of factors including the low speed at which they were travelling, caused the cars to come to a halt.
While Lawson was not one of those impacted, he had another issue to deal with as he had no team radio to talk him through what was happening.
"I had no radio, I knew I had no radio before I even pulled away for the formation lap.
"So I was very stressed because there are a lot of procedures, especially in this year's car, that you have to do.
"I literally was like, 'I have no idea what's going on'. I had no idea what mode I was meant to be in.”
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Lawson 'didn't know if I was allowed to overtake'
Lawson only got his radio working again after following instructions that were shown to him on his pit board as he drove down the start-finish straight.
But with cars coming to a stop around him, he faced uncertainty about what was happening on the track, and Lawson admitted it was a lonely moment for him.
"I had to look at my pit board on the way by to read a certain switch change I had to do and then it brought the radio back.
"So, very stressful. That was probably the most alone I've ever felt.
"Obviously it was very confusing when all the cars were slowing down.
"I couldn't talk to the team, I didn't know if I was allowed to overtake or what.
"So just a lot of confusion."
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