Summary
- Twelve of the 22 drivers on the 2026 grid have never started an F1 race at Sepang — 54.5% of the field.
- Fernando Alonso leads the returning drivers with 16 starts, followed by Lewis Hamilton with 11.
- Max Verstappen won F1’s last race at the Malaysian circuit in 2017.
When Formula 1 returns to Sepang this week, most of the drivers on the grid will be racing there in a Grand Prix for the first time. Twelve of the 22 drivers entered in the 2026 championship have never started an F1 race at the circuit, which last hosted the series nine years ago.
The other ten have 56 Sepang starts between them. Fernando Alonso accounts for 16, stretching from his 2001 season with Minardi to Formula 1’s last visit in 2017. Lewis Hamilton is next with 11. At the opposite end of the group, Lance Stroll and Pierre Gasly each have one start.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia takes place from 2 to 4 October. Its name reflects the relocation of the Bahrain round, but all track activity will be held at Sepang. GRANDE PRÊMIO has explained why the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix is being held in Malaysia.
Which current F1 drivers have raced at Sepang?
The figures below count Grand Prix starts at Sepang, including races the driver did not finish. Practice or testing appearances are not counted.
| Driver | F1 starts at Sepang | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Fernando Alonso | 16 | 2001; 2003–2017 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 11 | 2007–2017 |
| Sergio Pérez | 7 | 2011–2017 |
| Nico Hülkenberg | 7 | 2010; 2012–2017 |
| Valtteri Bottas | 5 | 2013–2017 |
| Max Verstappen | 3 | 2015–2017 |
| Carlos Sainz | 3 | 2015–2017 |
| Esteban Ocon | 2 | 2016–2017 |
| Lance Stroll | 1 | 2017 |
| Pierre Gasly | 1 | 2017 |
| Total | 56 |
Alonso’s first Malaysian Grand Prix came in 2001, when he finished 13th for Minardi. He was absent from the F1 grid in 2002, then raced at Sepang every year from 2003 through 2017. The Spaniard won there three times, in 2005, 2007 and 2012.
Hamilton raced at Sepang in every season from his 2007 debut through the circuit’s departure from the calendar. He won the 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix for Mercedes and finished second to Verstappen in the final edition three years later.
Verstappen’s record spans only three starts, but includes the result that closed Sepang’s first spell on the calendar. He won the 2017 race for Red Bull, ahead of Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo.
Gasly’s only Sepang start was his F1 debut
Pierre Gasly has a particularly unusual connection to this return. The 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix was his first Formula 1 race: Toro Rosso brought him in to replace Daniil Kvyat, and he finished 14th. He has not had another opportunity to race an F1 car at Sepang until now.
Stroll also has just one start, from his rookie season with Williams in 2017. Ocon raced at Sepang twice: first with Manor in 2016 and then with Force India in 2017. Pérez and Hülkenberg each have seven starts, although Hülkenberg’s are spread across 2010 and 2012–2017 because he did not race in F1 in 2011.
That experience may help the returning drivers recognise the circuit’s braking points and changes in grip. It will not give them a direct setup advantage from nine-year-old data. Formula 1 now uses substantially different cars, power units and tyres, so every team must establish how its 2026 package behaves at Sepang during Friday practice.
Which 12 drivers have never raced there in F1?
The drivers without a Formula 1 Grand Prix start at Sepang are George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Isack Hadjar, Alex Albon, Gabriel Bortoleto, Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad, Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto.
They represent 54.5% of the 22-driver field. Several have been established in F1 for years, but entered the championship only after Sepang held its last race. Russell and Norris, for example, made their F1 race debuts in 2019; Leclerc arrived in 2018.
The distinction is specifically about F1 race starts. A driver could have visited or driven at Sepang in another setting and still appear on this list. What none of the 12 has done is start a Formula 1 Grand Prix there.
For the experienced ten and the newcomers alike, the first comparison comes on Friday. FP1 starts at 12:30 local time on 2 October, followed by FP2 at 16:00. Qualifying is on Saturday, and Sunday’s race is scheduled for 56 laps. The full Sepang timetable includes start times for the UK, US, India and Australia.
F1 today: FAQ
What time does F1 practice start at Sepang?
Friday practice begins on 2 October. FP1 starts at 05:30 BST in the UK, 10:00 IST in India and 14:30 AEST in Sydney and Melbourne. In New York and Toronto, it starts at 00:30 EDT; in Los Angeles and Vancouver, at 21:30 PDT on Thursday. FP2 begins three and a half hours later.
Is Esteban Ocon leaving Haas and retiring from F1?
Ocon will leave Haas at the end of 2026, but says he intends to remain in Formula 1. He has not announced retirement and would consider a reserve role while seeking another race seat.
What happened to Oscar Piastri at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
Piastri was running near the front in Baku before a mistake during a Safety Car restart dropped him out of podium contention. He finished 14th, adding to a difficult 2026 season for the McLaren driver.
How many current F1 drivers have never raced at Sepang?
Twelve of the 22 drivers on the 2026 grid have never started a Formula 1 Grand Prix at Sepang. That is 54.5% of the field.
