Sepang International Circuit: Malaysian Grand Prix

Latest Race at Sepang International Circuit

Max Verstappen converted pole into victory at the 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix, leading every lap and setting the fastest lap of the race (1:38.220) to leave Sepang with a dominant round 16 win. Andrea Kimi Antonelli brought his Mercedes home in second, which is a solid result for the young driver, while Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third for Ferrari. The retirements told their own story: Valtteri Bottas lasted just 7 laps in the Cadillac before his afternoon was over, Alexander Albon made it to lap 41 before the Williams gave up and George Russell added to Mercedes’ frustration by retiring on lap 49 when a top-four finish had looked possible. Verstappen’s day was essentially flawless from lights to flag.

The Layout

Sepang International Circuit measures 5.543 km across 15 corners and runs clockwise through the flat, tropical countryside of Sepang in Selangor, Malaysia. Designed by Hermann Tilke and opened in 1999, it was the first of the modern purpose-built Tilke tracks and set the template for many of the venues that followed on the Formula 1 calendar.

Signature Corners

The circuit is best known for the sweeping wide-radius Turn 1 and 2 sequence and the long final corner that feeds cars onto the main straight. The heat and humidity of the region often turn Sepang into one of the most physically demanding races of the season and sudden tropical downpours regularly reshape the running.

History

Sepang hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017. The F1 lap record still stands from that final year, set by Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari at 1:34.080. The circuit returns to the calendar in 2026 as the venue for the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix, which was moved to Malaysia after the original round was cancelled.