Some circuits appear on the Formula 1 calendar and I think, “Nice.” Sepang returns after nine years and suddenly I am sitting forward, remembering tropical rain, ridiculous heat and a racetrack wide enough for drivers to fight without immediately meeting a concrete wall.
Yes, this is more like it.
Formula 1 last raced at Sepang in 2017, when Max Verstappen celebrated turning 20 by overtaking Lewis Hamilton and winning the race. Apparently, even young Max considered cake and balloons far too ordinary for a birthday weekend.
Sir Max now returns as the last Formula 1 winner in Malaysia. I am mentioning this purely as an important historical fact and definitely not because I have already started building another Max victory prediction inside my head.
The Sepang race weekend takes place from 2–4 October, directly between Azerbaijan and Singapore. It is officially the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, replacing the original Sakhir race that could not take place earlier this season. Slightly confusing name, beautiful circuit. We move on.
What excites me about Sepang is that it feels like a circuit built for Formula 1 cars rather than a collection of streets temporarily surrounded by barriers. It has long straights, fast corners, heavy braking zones and enough width for drivers to attempt an overtake without first preparing a written apology. Colapinto you listening bruv?
The final corner alone can create trouble. Drivers arrive after the long back straight, brake heavily into the hairpin and then try to get the perfect exit onto the main straight. One slightly poor exit and somebody will be sitting inside the rear-view mirrors before Turn 1.
Then we have the Malaysian weather, which does not believe in quietly supporting the race. It can be hot, humid and completely dry before a dark cloud arrives carrying enough rain to frighten every strategist in the pit lane.
That is when Formula 1 becomes extremely entertaining for us and extremely stressful for everyone being paid to make decisions.
Many drivers on the current grid have never raced an F1 car at Sepang. Kimi Antonelli, George Russell and Lando Norris will all be learning it properly during the weekend, while Max, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso already know what this place can do.
Lewis has won here before, Fernando has won three times with three different teams and Max won the final Malaysian Grand Prix. That experience could matter, especially if the temperature rises, the tyres begin complaining and the weather starts changing its mind every seven minutes.
For pole position, I am expecting a fight between Kimi and Lando. McLaren should enjoy Sepang’s faster corners, but Kimi has spent this season learning new circuits as though somebody secretly uploaded them into his brain before Friday practice. The Matrix Reloaded.
Lando desperately needs a clean weekend after the pain of Baku, while Kimi will probably find the limit almost immediately and then look confused about why everyone else required more time. I think the gap between them will be tiny, with George close enough to take advantage if either makes a mistake.
For the race, I expect Sir Max to stand on the podium again in second or third. Red Bull looked dangerous in Baku, Sepang gives him proper overtaking opportunities and he already knows how to win here.
George should be fighting Max or Lewis for second place. His luck finally returned in Azerbaijan, and I would appreciate it if it remained employed rather than disappearing again without submitting a holiday request. Lewis also needs a result that gives him something to smile about, because watching him look disappointed inside Ferrari red is beginning to hurt me personally.
My head says Kimi or Lando wins. My heart says Max will spend the entire race making that prediction look increasingly foolish.
Of course, if the rain arrives, please ignore everything I have just written. Wet Formula 1 races do not respect predictions, strategies or the emotional stability of people watching from their sofas.
Sepang is finally back after nine years. Some drivers know it, others are about to discover it and the weather will probably attempt to introduce itself to everyone at the worst possible moment.
Bring the heat, bring the rain and bring the chaos.
Waiting for a Kimi–Lando pole fight, George’s luck to remain employed and Sir Max to return to the Sepang podium.
I won’t mind if Mr. Saturday or Sir Max takes the pole.
aKi Malik
No Comment! Be the first one.