SEPANG — Kimi Antonelli has pledged to regain his dominant form and extend his lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship as the sport returns to Malaysia this weekend. The Sepang International Circuit will host the Oct. 4 race, replacing Bahrain’s event originally scheduled for April but canceled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The 20-year-old Italian leads his Mercedes teammate George Russell by 66 points after finishing fifth in last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Russell, who secured a commanding victory in Baku, overtook Antonelli on the track for the first time in six races. Antonelli, hindered by a hydraulics issue during practice, crashed in qualifying and started 16th on the grid.
Acknowledging Russell as his chief rival, Antonelli expressed determination to restore his usual performance level at Sepang, which has not hosted an F1 race since 2017. “He’s always been my rival,” Antonelli said of Russell’s challenge for the championship. “But I’ll make sure I re-establish the order and just make sure that I am back to my usual level.” The driver humorously noted that his performance in Azerbaijan was akin to “driving more like my grandma.”
Russell, meanwhile, outlined his ambition to win all eight remaining races of the season, aiming to close the gap and contest Antonelli’s lead. The Malaysian circuit promises a significant test for both drivers as the championship intensifies.
Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion driving for Red Bull, finished a close second to Russell in Baku, indicating that he remains a potent contender with strong speed. His teammate Isack Hadjar, who finished third, further showcased Red Bull’s straight-line pace. Ferrari and McLaren also enter Sepang as formidable challengers.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur dismissed speculation linking him to a move to Red Bull and emphasized the team’s commitment to fighting for every point until the season’s end. “We will bring upgrades and we will continue to push until the last corner,” Vasseur stated. He added that data from the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix would offer little insight this year due to substantial changes in tires, engines, and chassis.
Ferrari reiterated its full confidence in Vasseur’s leadership following reports at the Baku race, where he faced repeated questioning about the rumors. McLaren’s Lando Norris publicly apologized to Alpine’s Franco Colapinto after an on-track collision involving Colapinto and teammate Pierre Gasly resulted in Norris’s retirement from the Azerbaijan race. “I sent Franco a message apologizing for the comments I made that I simply should not have said. Emotions were running high, but that is not an excuse,” Norris said.
After the unpredictable street circuit of Baku, Sepang is expected to deliver a more traditional race environment, though weather remains a potential factor with the possibility of rain and storms. Half the drivers will revisit the fast, flowing layout fondly remembered from the last race there, while others will face the Malaysian track for the first time.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton aims to add to his record of five poles and one victory at Sepang, while two-time champion Fernando Alonso will seek a fourth win at the circuit, which would match the record. In an unusual situation, the race will still be officially titled the Bahrain Grand Prix despite being conducted in Malaysia.