Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Why Cadillac isn’t using as many Ferrari F1 parts as it could

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Session 1
Why Cadillac isn’t using as many Ferrari F1 parts as it could

Formula E working on a longer version of Jeddah F1 track for Gen4 era

Formula E
Formula E
Jeddah ePrix II
Formula E working on a longer version of Jeddah F1 track for Gen4 era

Video: F1 testing update

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain Pre-Season 2
Video: F1 testing update

Just how good is the WRC’s King of Consistency?

Feature
WRC
WRC
Rally Sweden
Just how good is the WRC’s King of Consistency?

What to look out for in F1's second week of Bahrain testing

Feature
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain Pre-Season 1
What to look out for in F1's second week of Bahrain testing

The unexpected factor that makes F1 qualifying more complicated in 2026

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain Pre-Season 2
The unexpected factor that makes F1 qualifying more complicated in 2026

Government rejects MotoGP proposal to change Australian GP venue

MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
Government rejects MotoGP proposal to change Australian GP venue

Red Bull chief designer leaves F1 team

Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Session 1
Red Bull chief designer leaves F1 team

FIA says Sepang has fixed track issues ahead of F1's Malaysian GP

Malaysian Grand Prix bosses have "taken every reasonable precaution" ahead of Formula 1's return after a MotoGP test was marred by problems from resurfacing, says the FIA

Sepang was completely resurfaced earlier this year and the World Superbike Championship raced at the venue straight after without drama.

But a Michelin MotoGP tyre test in early July was thwarted by problems with the track drying and then water seeping back through the surface.

After an investigation by circuit bosses, measures were put in place ahead of next weekend's F1 race.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting is believed to be happy with the action taken having visited the venue on Wednesday.

An FIA spokesman told Autosport: "There seems to be little or no problem.

"From what we gather, it takes a little longer to dry out.

"Extra drainage slots have been cut so I don't think we're going to be in trouble.

"The Malaysians have taken every reasonable precaution."

Williams performance chief Rob Smedley said that as is the case after any resurfacing, Friday will be key to get a baseline and track evolution will be high as the weekend progresses.

"What we do have to do is we have to get ourselves ready for the evolution of the track, because it will evolve a lot once you put Formula 1 cars on the track," he said.

"The normal loads they put onto the asphalt, you get quite a bit of evolution over the three days.

"What you find on Friday is very rarely what you'll find on Sunday.

"The main thing is not to obsess too much over second guessing what it's going to be like on the Friday, but to get there on Friday, get your baselines done, then make sure you've got all your bases covered for how it's going to project forward on the Sunday."

Previous article Tension-hit Renault Formula 1 team just needs leadership
Next article Haas F1's Esteban Gutierrez 'bored' with finishing grands prix 11th

Top Comments