Confusing start to F1 2026 season in Sepang as teams grapple with tyre wear and track conditions
The opening practice session at the Malaysian Grand Prix was marked by high tyre degradation, a deteriorating track surface and unpredictable weather, leaving teams uncertain about performance ahead of qualifying.
The first day of free practice at the Sepang circuit proved difficult for teams, with extreme tyre wear, a roughening track and a brief rain threat that vanished before the second session. Drivers and engineers reported that the upgraded Mercedes package showed mixed results, as traffic and an off-track incident prevented Kimi Antonelli and George Russell from demonstrating full pace. Russell said the car’s fourth-fastest single-lap time reflected set-up and tyre challenges rather than the upgrade itself.
Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said the team will analyse the data overnight and explore set-up changes, noting that the headline times do not fully represent the car’s potential and that long-run pace remains a key issue.
Red Bull posted the fastest single-lap time, with Max Verstappen edging Charles Leclerc by eight thousandths of a second, but qualifying performance remains uncertain as several teams, including Red Bull, did not optimise their simulation runs. Pirelli’s Simone Berra explained that teams may accept understeer in qualifying to achieve a more balanced race set-up, which could lead to surprises on Saturday.
George Russell suggested that while Red Bull appears quickest over a single lap, McLaren shows strength in longer runs. McLaren’s progress was aided by data from a new high-downforce wing and engine adjustments, positioning them as potential challengers.
Tyre strategy is expected to centre on two-stop plans, though the high degradation could force additional stops. Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord warned that three-stop strategies have been seen at Sepang before. Pirelli highlighted that the soft compound may degrade less than the medium on this abrasive surface, a pattern previously observed in Bahrain.
The track surface, described by Alex Albon as “extremely aggressive,” is breaking up, with stones being swept after each session. Pirelli noted that teams were about 4.5 seconds slower than pre-event simulations, attributing most of the gap to the deteriorating tarmac.
Weather adds another variable, as rain showers are likely in the coming days. A wet qualifying session could reshuffle the grid, and teams have limited experience with Pirelli’s wet tyres in hot, high-energy conditions. Berra indicated that, if it rains heavily, full-wet tyres may become the preferred choice for the race.