Malaysia: Sepang Track Guide

The demanding 15-turn, 5.543km track features a pair of parallel straights plus a combination of low and medium-speed corners that really test drivers. Indeed, Sepang is regarded as one of the most physically demanding tracks in the world, with the extremely high levels of humidity making the race particularly difficult. The surface is wide and smooth with overtaking most likely to occur under braking for the tight corners at the end of each straight.

As the years have passed, the circuit has got more bumpy. Combined with a predominatnly oversteer led handling characteristic and the predicted high temperatures, the circuit can be very hard on tyres. As such, Bridgestone will be bringing the medium and hard compounds to Sepang.

For driver confidence, it’s important to get a good balance through the quick left-right at Turns 5 and 6, but there are other more important corners in terms of lap time. The penultimate corner onto the long back straight is a double apex and it’s technically difficult to find a good balance through there.

Jenson Button secured his maiden podium finish for BAR Honda in 2004, bringing his 006 home in second place. Jenson then went on to record further 9 podium finishes through the season, finishing the championship behind only the Ferrari drivers.

Last years race saw Jenson Button line up on the grid in 11th place, three ahead of team mate Rubens Barrichello. A difficult race in the reluctant RA108 saw both drivers finish outside of the points, with both drivers making up just a single position to finish in 10th and 13th respectively.