Ahead of the upcoming race in Malaysia, drivers such as Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso have shared their thoughts about the iconic track returning to the F1 calendar in 2026.
For the first time since 2017, F1 will return to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for round 16 of the 2026 F1 season. Considered a fan favorite, the circuit near Kuala Lumpur has hosted many memorable races in the past and has drivers excited to return to Malaysia after almost a decade of absence from the F1 calendar.
Reigning F1 Champion Lando Norris shared his excitement for F1’s return to Malaysia, a track he hasn’t raced on yet but has done extensive simulator work on for then-McLaren drivers Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne.
Norris on F1 returning to Malaysia
“Malaysia I’m excited for is one I’ve seen many races on when I was younger.
“And even growing up, I’ve seen many races there. I remember doing sim support. I did sim support for Fernando and Stoffel when they raced there many years ago [2017].
“So, I remember going into the factory at midnight, or whatever stupid time it was, and driving until 7am in the a.m. just to support the guys there. It’s not completely new to me, but it’ll be my first time going to the circuit itself. Which is exciting.”
While Norris shared his excitement over the return of Malaysia for the 2026 F1 season, he noted that there was one downside regarding the “battery” that will likely see drivers run out of power through the high-speed corners.
“The only thing that’s not exciting is because you have no battery. The two high-speed corners that should be high-speed run out of battery and are easy flat. That takes away a little bit of the character that I think you should have in such an incredible track.
“Otherwise, it’s a new place, and I’m looking forward to another new challenge for us, for sure.”
Hamilton believes F1 should add more tracks that produce “good races”
One of the drivers with plenty of experience at the Sepang International Circuit is Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, who won the race in 2014 and holds four of the last five pole positions. The Briton is pleased to see Malaysia return to F1, saying that the “track is awesome” and produces good races.
“I always loved going to KL [Kuala Lumpur] and had lots of great experiences there with my previous team. And the track is awesome. And it is a i track that does give good racing”
With recent additions like the Madring Circuit drawing criticism for a lack of track action, Hamilton feels that when adding tracks to the F1 calendar, teams should consider tracks that produce “good races,” which is why he is pleased to see Malaysia return.
“And when it comes to deciding what tracks to go through in the year, that should be a part of the decision making. We want good races for fans, not ones that that you don’t see any overtaking. And so I’m very much welcoming it.
“I’m looking forward to it. Again, it’s a super hot circuit. There’s going to be one that’s physically massively demanding. So, I look forward to that challenge.”
Alonso is looking forward to racing on “incredible” Sepang Circuit
Three-time F1 Malaysia GP winner Fernando Alonso, who just extended his contract with Aston Martin, is looking forward to racing in Malaysia again. Calling the Sepang International Circuit “incredible”, the Spaniard notes that out of the remaining rounds of the 2026 F1 season, Malaysia was likely one of the “nicest.”
“I didn’t think that I would race in Malaysia again, so that’s a golden ticket that I take, and an incredible circuit. I’m looking forward. Demanding race.
“Temperature, humidity, like Singapore, in daytime, so it will be also a good test for drivers. And, looking forward. I think from the remaining races, Sepang is probably the nicest tracks.”
Lawson hopes drivers fitness level to be a factor in Malaysia
“It’s a cool track,” says Liam Lawson about the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
Having only raced around the Circuit on the simulator, the Racing Bulls driver isn’t certain how much deployment will hamper the enjoyment, but he welcomes the new challenge the 2026 F1 race in Malaysia will provide.
“It looks like it’s going to be very fun. I don’t know how the energy’s going to be. I’ve done it in the simulator. I think every track now is a bit potentially hamstrung by that, but it’s going to be something different for us, which will be cool.”
With soaring temperatures, the Sepang International Circuit is a demanding track that requires F1 drivers to be in shape to extract their machinery’s potential. This challenge is no longer valid for every track on the 2026 F1 calendar, and Lawson hopes that drivers who maintain a high level of fitness will have an advantage in Malaysia.
“It’s going to be very physically challenging, which I think also is quite cool, I think, to have races from F1 that really push us as athletes because some races don’t anymore, honestly.
“So hopefully that gives some separation between some of the guys that work hard and some of the guys that don’t.”
Bortoleto on the prospect of the first wet race of the 2026 F1 season in Malaysia
Another driver who has only raced on the Sepang International Circuit on the Simulator is Audi F1 Team’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who enjoyed the track layout and is looking forward to going racing in Malaysia.
“I did it in the sim, and it’s a pretty cool track. Lots of fast, high speeds, constant radius of the corners. It’s kind of sick.
“I want to drive to see. It looks like there are some elevations out of some corners, so it becomes quite tricky on traction as well. So, I liked it.”
Weather forecasts show a high likelihood of rain during the F1 race weekend in Malaysia, asked whether he has prepared for the eventuality during his simulator sessions, Bortoleto responds:
“No, not really,” adding that a wet race in Malaysia, which would be the first of the 2026 F1 season, could be “interesting”.
“But it would be interesting.
“We haven’t raced in the rain yet this year. We only had a few occasions that it rained and then we stopped. Yeah, let’s see.”
Lindblad is eager to race in Sepang in real-life
2026 F1 rookie Arvid Lindblad joins the drivers that are looking forward to racing in Malaysia. The Racing Bull driver recalls racing on the Sepang International Circuit in the official F1 games, naming it one of the “iconic” tracks at the time. Now the 19-year-old looks ahead to driving the “real thing.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s very cool. I remember it very well being one of the iconic ones when I used to drive on F1 2011 on my phone or F1 15 or 16.
“There is one; it was always Malaysia. It was one of the main tracks. It was like Barcelona or China. It was the ones that you used to go to every year.
“It was a very iconic part of the season at that time. So I remember it very well. I’ve watched many races from there.
“I got my first go on the Sim with it earlier in the week just to get a bit of a taste. I’m really looking forward to driving the real thing.”
