Lando Norris expects a lively race on Formula 1’s return to the Sepang circuit. The McLaren driver foresees intense battles and plenty of overtakes, in a scene that could resemble the Monza Grand Prix.
The Malaysian track returns to the calendar after nine years away, now linked to the Bahrain Grand Prix name, and welcomes the category in a season defined by changes to the regulations. According to Norris, the mix of straights and corners of the layout should favor unpredictable races, although energy limitations could also alter the driving experience.
“Honestly, I think the upcoming weekend will be quite chaotic in terms of racing because of the straights and the corner layout we have there. In a way, we’ll see something similar to Monza,” Norris said, previewing the type of contest he expects to find in Sepang.
The use of battery has directly influenced wheel-to-wheel battles this season, especially on circuits where energy availability is limited. Norris believes this factor will again weigh on Malaysia, but pointed out a drawback he sees as negative: energy shortages can compromise segments that should be run at high speed.
“You run out of battery on the two high-speed corners that should be really quick. That takes away a bit of the character that, in my opinion, a track as incredible as Sepang should have,” he added.
In spite of the caveat, the British driver showed excitement about the challenge. Although he has yet to race in Sepang, Norris has followed races at the track when he was younger and recalled that he even worked on the simulator for Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne during their stints with McLaren.
He noted that he used to run late-night sessions to help the team, even piloting the simulator until seven in the morning. Now, he will have the chance to experience the track in person, in a return he regards as a new experience, even with the memories he already carries of the circuit.
