Piastri likens track to 'sandpaper' as F1 returns to Malaysia
Formula 1 is heading back to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit after a nine-year hiatus this weekend, with more than half the drivers on the grid unfamiliar with a track that is hosting the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix.
Formula 1 will return to Malaysia after a nine-year break for the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri compared the track surface to sandpaper, predicting significant tyre wear. The 5.543-kilometer circuit features long straights and high-speed corners, and only 10 of the 22 drivers have raced in Malaysia previously. Piastri and McLaren teammate Lando Norris will navigate the track for the first time.
Pirelli warned of abrasive conditions, akin to Bahrain. Piastri admitted uncertainty about recent race conditions, attributing potential wash-off to frequent afternoon showers. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli sees Sepang's abrasive surface as a potential advantage for testing 2026 cars in wet conditions, praising the open tarmac that limits standing water and reduces aquaplaning risk.
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