Sepang International Circuit

What is a lap of Sepang International Circuit like?

Sepang was the first Formula 1 circuit Hermann Tilke designed from scratch; it hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017 and returns on 4 October 2026 as the stand-in venue for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Its two long straights are joined by the Turn 15 hairpin, with the main grandstand facing both of them; the very wide Turn 1 and the final hairpin are the main overtaking points. The fast sweep through Turns 5 and 6 is the highest-speed cornering section of the lap, and the wide track lets drivers use several racing lines. The track was resurfaced in 2016 by Dromo, and the inside of the final hairpin was raised by about one metre to push drivers onto later apexes and different lines.

Lap length

5.543 km

Turns

15

Direction

clockwise

Downforce

High

Longest straight

920 m

Elevation change

22 m

DRS zones (to 2025)

2

Character

Balanced (about 42% of the lap is cornering)

Layout described

Grand Prix Circuit, 5.543 km, 15 turns, used for every Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017 (most recent F1 race held there: 1 October 2017; resurfaced in 2016 with the final hairpin reprofiled). formula1.com lists the same 5.543 km circuit for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on 4 October 2026.

Map, character and grey values are approximate (measured from a GPS trace). Report a correction.

Does pole position win at Sepang International Circuit?

The pole sitter has won 10 of 20 races here (50%). Across all circuits since 1950 the pole sitter wins 44% of races. The winner started from the front row (P1 or P2) in 14 of 20 races (70%) and from the top three in 16 (80%). Lowest grid position to win: 8th, Fernando Alonso in 2012.

Where the winner started, every race at this circuit. Pole sitter means the driver who set the fastest qualifying time (first on the grid where no qualifying data exists); a grid penalty can move the pole sitter back, and that race still counts for them. Compare every circuit.

How are races at Sepang International Circuit won?

Since 2010

9 races; winners made 1 stop in 2, 2 stops in 2, 3 or more in 5; first stop at a median lap 15 (27% of the race)

1994 to 2009 (refuelling)

11 races; winners made 1 stop in 1, 2 stops in 8, 3 or more in 2; first stop at a median lap 19 (34% of the race)

Lap times over the years

All races at Sepang International Circuit