Formula One is heading back to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for the first time since 2017, after the track stepped in at short notice to stage the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix. Alpine arrives in the middle of a triple header with Pierre Gasly, who made his Formula One debut at the same venue nine years ago, and Franco Colapinto, who has never raced there. Heat, humidity and a fast, physical layout are set to make it one of the toughest weekends of the season.
The Bahrain Grand Prix will be run in Malaysia. After the race was postponed, the Sepang International Circuit agreed at short notice to host it, returning Formula One to a venue the championship last visited in 2017.
Sepang was purpose-built for the sport and first appeared on the calendar in 1999, staying there for 18 years. Its layout is defined by two long, wide straights at the start and end of the lap, a pair of hairpins and a sequence of flowing corners in between. Add the tropical climate, and the weekend becomes a physical test for the drivers as well as a technical one for the teams in the garage.
A grid split by experience
Only nine drivers on the current grid have raced at Sepang in the championship before, leaving the rest to learn a demanding circuit on a race weekend. Pierre Gasly is one of those with history there: the 2017 event in Kuala Lumpur was his Formula One debut, and he now returns with more than 190 Grands Prix behind him.
“I have very good memories of Malaysia as it is where I made my Formula One debut back in 2017. I was actually looking back on some photos of that weekend the other day and it is quite amazing how much the cars and the sport has changed. I have also changed a bit, I was definitely a bit younger, a bit fresher and I think my neck has doubled in size!”
Gasly, who flew home to Milan after Baku for a few days of rest, says he is prepared for what Sepang asks of a driver. “I know the demands with the conditions, it’s very hot and humid, always prone to some rain, and also the track layout, which is quite high speed and physical throughout,” he said, adding that he hopes the team can carry forward its recent level of performance.
Colapinto prepares in the simulator
Franco Colapinto has never driven the circuit. The Argentine travelled to Alpine’s Enstone factory after Baku for a simulator day, held at an unusual hour as the team began adjusting to the Malaysian time zone.
“That was quite unique, as we are preparing to adapt to the timezone, I was at the factory at 5am along with my engineers,” he said. His target for the weekend is a productive Friday, a car in the right set-up window and a shot at the top ten on both days.
Alpine chasing a return to the points
Managing Director Steve Nielsen credited Formula One, the FIA and the organisers in both Malaysia and Bahrain for assembling the event at short notice, calling it a significant logistical challenge. He described Sepang as a track with plenty of medium and high-speed corners and two long straights that should create overtaking chances.
According to Nielsen, the team’s car has performed well since the summer break, and Alpine travels to Malaysia aiming to score points and recover ground in the championship. The team fields the A526 for Gasly and Colapinto, with Flavio Briatore as Executive Advisor and Nielsen as Managing Director.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia takes place at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend.
Source: media.alpinecars.com