Summary
- Pole position was mistakenly painted on the left.
- Thursday’s correction restored pole to the right and renumbered the grid.
- Sepang subsequently passed its circuit inspection.
Sepang’s F1 starting grid had to be repainted on Thursday after pole position was marked on the wrong side of the track. The correction came before the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, which brings the championship back to the circuit for the first time since 2017.
Team personnel noticed the discrepancy during Wednesday’s track walks. Pole had been placed on the left, whereas the circuit’s previous Formula 1 races used the right-hand side.
Reporting by The Race traced the mistake to administrative instructions supplied to the local organisers. Track workers had followed paperwork directing them to paint pole on the left, and FIA checks identified the error.
How was Sepang’s starting grid corrected?
Workers covered the incorrect pole markings and renumbered the remaining positions. The space originally designated second became pole position.
The start line also needed adjustment. The incorrect pole had been ahead of the original line, creating a potential timing complication; after correcting the grid, workers moved the line to satisfy the minimum separation requirement.
Sepang passed Thursday’s inspection following the changes.
Formula 1 returns this weekend, from 2–4 October, to Malaysia, which hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Sepang.
F1 today: FAQ
What time is F1 qualifying at Sepang?
Qualifying starts on Saturday, 3 October, at 16:00 Malaysia time. That is 09:00 BST in the UK, 04:00 EDT in New York and Toronto, 01:00 PDT in Los Angeles and Vancouver, 13:30 IST in India and 18:00 AEST in Sydney.
Did Lewis Hamilton receive a grid penalty for the Bortoleto incident?
No. Hamilton received a warning after impeding Gabriel Bortoleto during FP2 at Sepang. Ferrari was fined €10,000, but Hamilton will not lose grid positions over the incident.
Why were F1 lap times at Sepang over four seconds slower than expected?
Pirelli identified low grip, dust and an abrasive surface that increased tyre sliding and degradation. Friday’s benchmark was more than four seconds slower than its qualifying simulation reference, rather than four seconds slower than the 2017 race weekend.
Which side is pole position on at Sepang?
Pole position is on the right-hand side following Thursday’s correction.
