System 1 drivers are eagerly awaiting this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and the game’s return to Sepang after a nine-year absence.
The circuit hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix 19 occasions between 1999 and the newest occasion in 2017. The primary of a brand new technology of everlasting venues – adopted by the likes of Bahrain, Shanghai, Istanbul and Abu Dhabi amongst others – on the time, the observe set new requirements when it comes to amenities.
It all the time produced good racing, with drivers having fun with its flowing format and overtaking alternatives. Climate all the time performed a component, with the new and humid situations making it a tricky problem for the drivers, whereas rain was all the time a chance.
And that provides an additional dimension to this occasion provided that now we have made it to Spherical 16 and nonetheless not seen a totally moist session in 2026, by no means thoughts a race.
Regardless of the observe’s lengthy absence from the calendar, 10 of the drivers on the present grid have raced at Sepang, specifically Fernando Alonso (first begin in 2001), Lewis Hamilton (2007), Nico Hulkenberg (2010), Sergio Perez (2011), Valtteri Bottas (2013), Carlos Sainz (2015), Max Verstappen (2015), Esteban Ocon (2016), Pierre Gasly (2017) and Lance Stroll (2017).
None of them know Sepang in addition to Alonso, who gained in 2005 with Renault, in 2007 with McLaren, and in 2012 with Ferrari. Given his good report there, it’s maybe not stunning that the Aston Martin driver is eager to return.
“Yeah, I’m trying ahead,” he mentioned. “I did not suppose that I’ll race in Malaysia once more, in order that’s a golden ticket that I take. An unbelievable circuit, demanding race, temperature, humidity – like Singapore, however in daytime.
“So, it is going to be additionally a very good check for drivers, and yeah, trying ahead. I believe from the remaining races, most likely Sepang is the nicest observe. So, let’s have a look at.”
Hamilton completed second to Alonso in what was his second ever F1 begin in 2007, and he went on to win the race in 2014.
He has additionally spent extra time in Kuala Lumpur than his fellow drivers because of his lengthy relationship with Mercedes title sponsor Petronas.
“I all the time beloved going to KL, had numerous nice experiences there with my earlier staff,” he mentioned. “And the observe is superior. And it is a observe that does give good racing.
“So, I very a lot welcome it, I am trying ahead to it. It is a super-hot circuit. It’s going to be one which’s bodily massively demanding, so I sit up for that problem.”
Hamilton careworn that the bodily facet is a crucial a part of being an F1 driver.
“That is presupposed to be the game that is probably the most bodily demanding, mentally and bodily,” he mentioned. “And there are some which can be simply so scorching, and finally you might be on the sting. Like Singapore is extremely scorching and demanding.
“Malaysia shall be loopy this 12 months, however that is the place I believe you wish to see athletes excellent on the fringe of their efficiency, having to truly push their our bodies additional. As a result of that is what this sport is about – pushing the degrees, and pushing the boundaries.”
The opposite previous Sepang winner within the present discipline is Verstappen, who triumphed in 2017. So, is the Red Bull driver trying ahead to going again?
“Truly not, as a result of I used to be really fairly comfortable that I gained the ultimate one there!” he joked. “No, I believe it is an amazing observe. I actually get pleasure from being there. It is very powerful I believe simply from the warmth already, but additionally degradation shall be actually powerful on the tyres. So yeah, it is a good place. So, excited to return and see we will do there.”
So, what of the 12 drivers who’ve but to race at Sepang? They’ve all been busy in manufacturing facility simulators, however considered one of them has just a little extra expertise than the others.
“Malaysia I am excited for,” mentioned Lando Norris. “It is one I’ve seen many races on once I was youthful, and rising up. And truly, I bear in mind I did sim help for Fernando and Stoffel [Vandoorne] after they raced there a few years in the past.
“So, I bear in mind going into the manufacturing facility at midnight or no matter silly time it was, and driving until 7am simply to help the blokes. So, it is not utterly new to me, however it’ll be a primary time going to the circuit itself, which is thrilling.”
For everybody else, Sepang is a observe that they know solely from watching previous races on TV and their latest simulator runs.
“I believe it is all the time very good as a driver to find a brand new observe,” mentioned World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli. “I’ve achieved it on the sim, and it appears like a fairly cool observe.
“Very quick, flowing, lengthy corners, not straightforward, particularly to place the lap collectively. I believe it’ll be very fascinating as effectively with tyre degradation. We would see two, three stops, as a result of tyre deg goes to be huge.
“However one other query mark goes to be the climate. I’ve seen the forecast, and it appears to rain fairly closely at a selected time of the day. So, there’s going to be a whole lot of unknowns. Clearly, it’ll be very, highly regarded. It will be a very good problem – and I’m trying ahead to it.”