F1 Bahrain GP: What Drivers Are Looking Forward To in Sepang

Formula 1 returns to Malaysia for the first time since Red Bull's Max Verstappen won at Sepang in 2017. The Sepang International Circuit is an exciting and proper race track, where drivers can take advantage of high-speed turns and long straights. 

Plus, there's the challenge of the weather conditions, which are expected to be hot and humid, with real chances of isolated thunderstorms and rain.

The drivers themselves are excited for the 2026 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Here's what they have to say:

The championship leader is bracing for wet conditions in Sunday's race, but he isn't too worried. Antonelli knows that Sepang would do well even in a wet race. The Mercedes driver is leading the championship by 66 points over teammate George Russell, despite the latter winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last week.

Antonelli: "I think this track will be quite OK in the wet. If it rains normally, then it would probably be the best track to try these cars for the first time in the rain because the tarmac is so open that the water just doesn't sit on top of the surface." 

We mentioned the concern about evolving weather conditions at Sepang. If Antonelli is more focused on a wet race, his teammate, George Russell, is worried about tyre overheating. The FIA declared the race a Heat Hazard, as the heat index is expected to exceed 31°C at some point during the race. 

Russell would need to manage his tyres and whisper sweet nothings to them. He wants to keep his momentum going with potential back-to-back wins here in Malaysia.

Russell: "Here, surface overheating is going to be a huge thing. You'll be overheating the tyres even on the out-lap of a qualifying session."

The Australian driver, who finished P13 at Baku due to an unlucky lock-up and spin, is also anticipating heightened tyre degradation at Sepang. Piastri would love to deliver a strong weekend here, especially with how he's been struggling in performance compared to teammate Lando Norris.

Piastri: "I don't know how much racing or track running there's been recently. And anything that has been, the rain probably washes it off every afternoon anyway."

Sainz broke through with a P10 finish at Baku, his first points since the Canadian GP back in May. The Spanish driver also mirrored the sentiment of other drivers, saying that there might be a lot of tyre degradation at Sepang. Let's see if the much-improved Williams car can replicate a strong weekend here.

Sainz: "Maybe we finally see some deg because it's been a few weekends now in a row where there's been zero deg. It makes the racing a bit less driver-dependent."

Norris got caught out in an Alpine collision at Baku, forcing him to retire and finish without a point. It snapped his four-race streak of crossing the finish line in at least fourth place. But the reigning World Champion has already put that behind him, and is looking forward to a potential wet race at Sepang.

Norris: "I've not driven in the wet in this car, so it is still a completely new experience for us. Obviously, things have improved a lot since the beginning of the year, which makes some of the concerns less. But it's still a new experience, so that's something we have to be ready for, and prepare for."

Verstappen is still looking for his first win of the season, and he has a good chance of doing so here in Malaysia. His Red Bull has looked good recently, having finished P2 in the last two races. However, the four-time World Champion knows that winning here will be challenging, especially with the hot and humid conditions around the track.

Verstappen: "Yeah, just rock up. It's hot, but it's also hot in Monaco, and it gets very humid there as well, and if you really want it hot, you go into the sauna or a steam room. I do that sometimes. You just need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable, but that's the case for everyone."

We're looking forward to how the new generation of F1 cars will adapt to wet conditions. We haven't experienced a proper wet race this season, so like what Norris said, we're excited for this possible "new experience."

Oh, and also, we just want to see the two Aston Martin drivers take the checkered flag on Sunday. C'mon now. They've suffered enough.