Scuderia Ferrari HP is set to get back on track for the 16th round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship: the Bahrain Grand Prix which, unusually, will be held at the Sepang International Circuit. It is thus back on the calendar for the first time since 2017. The Malaysian event is the second race of the season’s first triple-header. Just days after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will be back on track this weekend before heading to Singapore to complete a particularly demanding run of three races for both teams and drivers.
A track with a bit of everything. Opened in 1999 and designed by Hermann Tilke, the Sepang International Circuit was a permanent fixture on the Formula 1 calendar from 1999 to 2017. The circuit is 5.543 kilometres long with 15 corners, as well as two long straights and a mix of heavy braking zones and very fast sections. The width of the track allows drivers to choose different lines which has made for plenty of action over the years. Among its most distinctive features are the fast sequence of Turns 5 and 6 and the final hairpin, Turn 15, which leads onto the main straight. The race will be run over 56 laps, a distance of 310.398 kilometres.
Heat and tyres. There are many elements that make Sepang a demanding circuit. The high-speed corners place heavy loads on the tyres, while high track temperatures can lead to increased degradation, making tyre management one of the key factors of the weekend. Another variable here is the weather. High temperatures and humidity make the weekend especially demanding for the drivers, while frequent tropical storms can change the scenario within minutes. Therefore, one needs to be ready to react quickly to any changes in track conditions.
Experience. Only ten drivers on the current grid, including Lewis Hamilton, have raced at Sepang before. Charles Leclerc has not, although he did take part in FP1 at the circuit in 2017 at the wheel of a Sauber.
Timetable. Friday’s free practice sessions are scheduled for 12.30 and 16.00 local time (06.30 and 10.00 CEST), while qualifying will take place on Saturday at 16.00, preceded by the final free practice session at 12.30. The Grand Prix gets under way at 15.00 local time, (09.00 CEST) on Sunday.
Sepang is a circuit that presents a very different challenge compared to the tracks we have visited recently. The demands on the car and driver are high, and changing conditions can play an important role over the weekend. As we have seen in the last few races, the field is tight and competitiveness alone is not enough: it is essential to put every aspect of the weekend together. We need to stay focused and take every opportunity available to bring home the best possible result.
Fred Vasseur, Team Principal
