SEPANG — Formula 1's one-off return to Malaysia after a nine-year hiatus threw early curveballs in Friday practice at Sepang, where an extremely rough surface left the field over four seconds slower than Pirelli's simulations. The abrasive tarmac, not the weather, set the tone for the opening day at the Malaysian circuit.
Thursday's track walks had already indicated the challenge ahead, with Oscar Piastri describing the asphalt as "sandpaper." That assessment proved accurate once running began. While Malaysia's daily monsoons missed the track on Friday, the Sepang circuit itself proved tough to tame as drivers struggled for grip on the coarse, sandpaper-like surface.
The deficit of more than four seconds to Pirelli's predicted pace underlined how far reality diverged from modelling on the resurfaced layout. Pirelli's simulations had anticipated significantly faster laps, but the extremely rough texture kept times in check throughout Friday. The one-off return follows F1's one-off return to Sepang after nine years away, with teams now facing a steep learning curve on tyre management.