2017 Malaysian Grand Prix track preview

2017 Malaysian Grand Prix

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The Sepang International Circuit was one of the first venues used by Formula One to have been created from scratch by Hermann Tilke.

Track data: Sepang International Circuit

Lap length5.543km (3.444 miles)
Grand prix distance310.408km (192.879 miles)
Lap record (race)1’34.223 (Juan Pablo Montoya, 2004)
Fastest lap (any session)1’32.582 (Fernando Alonso, 2005, qualifying one)
Tyre compoundsSee drivers’ choices
2016 Rate the Race8.01 out of 10
2016 Driver of the WeekendFernando Alonso

Sepang International Circuit track data in full

Now Tilke venues make up the majority of the calendar. Sepang is considered by many to be one of his better efforts but Sunday is set to be the last time it plays host to Formula One.

The track itself offers plenty to challenge the drivers and some long acceleration zones to encourage overtaking. The sheer width of the track, particularly around the start and end of the lap, also creates passing opportunities.

On top of that brutal heat and sporadic heavy downpours add to the challenge. The latter in particularly has contributed to some memorable encounters since F1’s first visit in 1999.

The track demands a compromise set-up as good top speed is necessary without compromising cornering performance too much. However cooling is also a priority due to the oppressive humidity and high air and track temperatures.

Last year the track was resurfaced which eased some of the bumpier sections and increased grip levels, causing lap times to tumble. The camber on some of the corners was altered, notably at the final turn, in the hope of making it easier for drivers to overtake. The reaction from drivers was somewhat mixed.

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A lap of Sepang International Circuit

The run towards turn one is the first of three points on the lap where the cars exceed 300kph. At the start of the race this long, wide run can leave the pole sitter vulnerable to attack. Last year Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg collided, putting the Ferrari driver out.

The final corner was reprofiled last year
It’s not uncommon for drivers to continue vying for position through the tight left-hander which follows and on towards turn four, a sharp right-hander. From here the tempo of the lap increases as the drivers tackle the first of the quick bends.

Turns five and six are “almost flat out” reckons Romain Grosjean. With more downforce this year and Pirelli’s super-soft tyres, the rapid corners will be a fascinating test of the new cars’ abilities. Turns seven and eight are a similar, medium-speed pair of right-handers where traction can be limited at the exit.

Next the drivers sprint to a left-handed hairpin, turn nine. This feeds into a long pair of right-handers, the second tighter than the first. “It’s quite good fun when the car is well balanced,” says Grosjean.

From there the cars arrive at the very quick turns 12 and 13, another part of the track where the best cars will likely be flat-out. The curved approach to turn 14 is tricky and drivers tend to vary their racing lines here. The exit is crucial, however, as it sets up the long sprint down the back stretch.

Last year the inside part of the final corner was raised by one metre. This encouraged drivers to alter their racing lines to take a later apex. However the jury’s out on whether the changes have actually promoted better racing.

And after Sunday’s race it’ll become a moot point as far as F1 is concerned, as the Malaysian Grand Prix is not on the 2018 F1 calendar.

2017 Malaysian Grand Prix

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Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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7 comments on “2017 Malaysian Grand Prix track preview”

  1. The first time I saw this track apart from brief glances on the television was when I played GP4, back in 2001. Immediately it struck as a brilliant track. And to this day, it has stuck to my all time top 5. Of the other 4, only Spa is still on the calendar :\

    1. Yes me too after Spa , Sepang is the track I really like to do hot laps in Assetto Corsa all day long, its just a fun twisty circuit, the first few corners give me the rush every time I do smooth flowing turns. Sad that it won’t be in F1 anymore.

    2. Topless Robot Nun
      27th September 2017, 19:18

      Never could get turns 13-14 quite right. Might be something to do with the car setup, I liked it with a lot of front wing, very little rear, high rake and spongy rear suspension. Trying to push through turns 13-14 at Sepang tended to end up with wobbling onto the rumble strip out of 13 and consequently wide through 14 and late on the throttle. Messy. Lightning fast everywhere else though – overtaking up Beau Rivage at Monaco was a regular feature. Just not Coulthard – he’d have you in the wall every time.

  2. Sepang is one of the best modern-ish circuits in F1, so losing it will be a shame.

  3. This track goes away so we can have modern spectacles like
    BAKU ???

    1. “Well done Azerbaijan!”

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