Ferrari and ZYN Set the Friday Pace as Formula 1 Returns to Sepang

Nine years after Formula 1 last raced at Sepang, one of the sport’s most popular circuits is back, although in rather unusual circumstances. This weekend’s race is officially the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with the postponed Bahrain event relocated more than 3,000 miles from Sakhir to the Sepang International Circuit.

For the Snus Vikings Nicotine Pouch Formula 1 Championship, the unexpected return to Malaysia arrives at an intriguing point in the season. Ferrari and ZYN halted McLaren and VELO’s recent charge in Azerbaijan, Lewis Hamilton restored some breathing space at the top of our drivers’ standings, and Charles Leclerc moved to within seven points of Lando Norris.  Sepang presents a very different challenge and Friday practice has offered some encouraging early signs for Ferrari.

Why Is the Bahrain Grand Prix Being Held in Malaysia?

This weekend exists because of the disruption to the original 2026 calendar. The Bahrain Grand Prix had been scheduled for 12 April at Sakhir, with Saudi Arabia following one week later, but both events were cancelled amid the conflict in the Middle East.

An agreement subsequently reached between Bahrain and Malaysia, Formula 1 and the FIA allowed the Bahrain race to be reinstated at Sepang, filling what had originally been a free weekend between Azerbaijan and Singapore. Bahrain is covering most of the cost and the event consequently retains its official identity as the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. 

The arrangement has produced an unexpected bonus for Formula 1 fans: the return of a circuit that has been absent from the championship since 2017.  Sepang first hosted Formula 1 in 1999 and became one of the defining circuits of the sport’s expansion into Asia. At 5.543km, with 15 corners, two long straights, wide braking zones and a series of fast, flowing turns, it combines overtaking opportunities with sections that reward aerodynamic performance. 

A Familiar Circuit That Is Effectively New

Although Sepang has plenty of Formula 1 history, the nine-year absence means teams cannot simply pull out their old notebooks and continue where they left off.

Only ten drivers on the current grid have previously competed here in Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez. For the other 12, this is an entirely new Grand Prix venue.

That gives three of the five drivers in our Nicotine Pouch Championship an important advantage as Hamilton, Bottas and Pérez have raced at Sepang before, while Norris, Leclerc and Piastri have not.

For Cadillac and 77 in particular, that experience could prove useful. The new team has no previous Formula 1 data of its own from Malaysia, but both Bottas and Pérez know the circuit, which at least gives Cadillac two drivers with first-hand knowledge as it tackles another unfamiliar weekend. 

Hamilton's experience is particularly extensive, and he took pole the last time Formula 1 visited Malaysia in 2017. He led initially before Verstappen passed him on lap four and went on to win. 

Leclerc Puts Ferrari on Top on Friday

If Friday practice is anything to go by, Ferrari and ZYN have reason for optimism. Max Verstappen led the opening session ahead of George Russell, but Charles Leclerc finished Friday fastest after topping FP2, ahead of Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris. Hamilton was fifth, three tenths behind his Ferrari team-mate. 

It would be premature to treat that as evidence that Ferrari has the quickest car, however, and Leclerc himself was cautious about doing so. Verstappen finished only around two tenths behind Leclerc despite not using the faster soft tyre in FP2, while Leclerc described the circuit as dirty and slippery and suggested Red Bull had looked particularly strong. 

That leaves a fascinating picture heading into Saturday: Ferrari at the top of the timesheets, Red Bull apparently possessing more pace than its headline position suggests, McLaren looking competitive over longer runs and Mercedes trying to unlock its latest upgrade.

Hamilton Has Breathing Room Again, But Not Much

The previous four races had transformed the Nicotine Pouch Championship with Hamilton holding a 56-point advantage over Norris before Hungary. A run of strong McLaren results at Hungary, Zandvoort, Monza and Madrid reduced that enormous cushion to just five points but Baku finally reversed the trend.

Hamilton finished sixth while Norris retired, allowing the Ferrari driver to rebuild his advantage back to 13 points. Leclerc's fourth place was even more significant, moving him to within seven points of Norris and creating a genuine three-way contest at the top.

Nicotine Pouch Drivers' Championship before Malaysia

The intriguing part is that Leclerc is now very much involved. Hamilton may lead, but only 20 points separate the two Ferrari/ZYN drivers, while Norris sits between them.

Sepang therefore isn't simply another Hamilton versus Norris weekend. A major result for Leclerc could compress the top three still further and Friday has at least demonstrated that the Ferrari has pace.

Ferrari and ZYN Reassert Their Advantage

There is a similar story in the teams' competition.

Nicotine Pouch Teams' Championship before Malaysia

Ferrari's advantage had fallen dramatically through the European races, shrinking from 90 points after Belgium to 52 after Spain but Baku changed the direction of travel, with Leclerc and Hamilton combining for 20 points while Norris and Piastri scored nothing, increasing Ferrari/ZYN's advantage to 72 points.

McLaren therefore needs Malaysia to look considerably more like Zandvoort, Monza or Madrid than Azerbaijan and there are reasons to think it might.

Could Sepang Suit McLaren and VELO?

Sepang's long, fast corners should play towards one of McLaren's strengths, and the MCL40 appeared competitive during Friday's longer runs. Norris finished third in FP2, while Piastri was sixth after McLaren made substantial progress from a quieter opening session. 

Piastri nevertheless described McLaren as perhaps a small step behind the leading pace, while noting how close Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren appeared to be. 

Norris has also highlighted an unusual feature of racing the new generation cars at Sepang. The circuit's two long straights place considerable demands on electrical energy, potentially leaving the cars short of battery deployment through some of the fast corners.

At the same time, he expects the combination of straights, corners and energy management to produce plenty of racing, comparing some aspects of the potential action with Monza and after both McLarens failed to score in Baku, that may be exactly what VELO needs.

Heat, Tyres and the Threat of a Malaysian Downpour

Malaysia's tropical climate has always been part of the circuit's identity. High temperatures and intense humidity place enormous physical demands on drivers, while conditions can change rapidly from sunshine to torrential rain. The 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix famously had to be stopped early when a huge downpour made the circuit undriveable. 

Rain and thunderstorms are again a possibility this weekend, including around Sunday's race start and even if the rain stays away, tyre management could become one of the defining factors.

Sepang has an abrasive surface and high-energy corners, while Pirelli has selected the C2, C3 and C4 compounds. Heavy degradation is expected, raising the possibility of a multi-stop race and making strategy potentially much more important than it was on some recent weekends. 

Friday already provided evidence of the problem. Russell described tyre degradation and overheating as major challenges, while Verstappen similarly highlighted the heat and degradation after his opening day and a sudden shower thrown into that equation could transform the race very quickly.

Mercedes and Red Bull Could Decide the Nicotine Pouch Battle

George Russell arrives fresh from winning in Azerbaijan and Mercedes has brought its first major aerodynamic upgrade since Canada, including changes to the floor and rear suspension. Russell admitted the team had not yet found the right set-up on Friday, but warned against assuming Mercedes would remain off the pace. 

Mercedes' other driver remains the man everyone is ultimately chasing in the real Formula 1 championship. Kimi Antonelli leads Russell by 66 points entering the Malaysian weekend. 

Verstappen is another potentially decisive factor. He was only 0.196 seconds away from beating Russell in Baku, led FP1 in Malaysia and then looked quick in FP2 despite avoiding the soft tyre. He also happens to be the most recent Formula 1 winner at Sepang, having beaten Hamilton here in 2017. 

Neither Mercedes nor Red Bull scores in the Snus Vikings competition, but every place they occupy near the front changes how many points are available to Ferrari/ZYN and McLaren/VELO.

That could be particularly important on a weekend when all four sponsored Ferrari and McLaren drivers appear capable of competing towards the sharp end.

Can Cadillac and 77 Finally Get on the Board?

For Cadillac and 77, the objective remains unchanged: score the team's first points.

Bottas remains on zero in our championship, and another difficult weekend in Azerbaijan ended with the Finn crashing late in the race.  Sepang therefore presents Cadillac with a curious combination of disadvantage and opportunity. The team has never raced here and therefore has no historical car data to fall back on, but Bottas and Pérez are among the minority of current drivers who have actually competed at the circuit. 

If changing weather, tyre degradation and multiple pit stops turn Sunday into an unpredictable race, experience could become particularly valuable and after a season spent waiting for that first breakthrough, Malaysia would certainly be an appropriate place for Cadillac to produce a surprise.

A Championship Battle Heading Into the Unknown

Ferrari and ZYN arrive with their championship advantage restored to 72 points, while Hamilton once again has a little breathing room over Norris. Yet Leclerc's resurgence means Ferrari now has two drivers in realistic contention at the top of our standings, while McLaren has already demonstrated how quickly a championship gap can disappear.

Friday has only added to the intrigue. Leclerc is fastest, Norris is third and Hamilton fifth, but Verstappen's tyre programme means Red Bull's true pace is not reflected by the timesheets, while McLaren's long-run performance and Mercedes' new upgrade remain significant unknowns. 

Then add Sepang's abrasive surface, extreme humidity, two enormous straights, demanding high-speed corners and the ever-present possibility of a tropical downpour and nine years after Formula 1 left Malaysia, Sepang is back to add another layer of uncertainty to both championships.

For Ferrari and ZYN, the task is to turn Friday pace into another extension of their lead. For McLaren and VELO, Malaysia is the chance to prove that Baku was merely an interruption to their charge.

Qualifying begins at 9am UK time on Saturday, with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia starting at 8am UK time on Sunday 4 October.