Russell warns Sepang heat could make passing harder at relocated Bahrain GP
Sepang’s heat raises tyre concerns
George Russell expects tyre overheating to be a defining challenge when Formula 1 stages the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit. With the FIA declaring a heat hazard for the weekend, the Mercedes driver says conditions could make it harder for cars to follow closely and launch another attack after being passed.
Russell drew a distinction between Sepang and other circuits where the racing can swing between cars. At venues including Melbourne, Silverstone, Monza and Canada, he said, surface-related tyre overheating had not been as pronounced. Bahrain had also allowed drivers to stay close in cooler conditions. Sepang, by contrast, could push tyres beyond their optimum even during a qualifying out-lap.
“Surface overheating is going to be a huge thing,” Russell said. “You'll be overheating the tyres even on the out lap of a qualifying session, which may make it more challenging to follow closer and to re-attack once you've been overtaken.” He added that the effect remained uncertain before running began.
The FIA’s heat-hazard declaration at Sepang underscores the environmental challenge facing teams and drivers across the weekend.
Abrasive surface adds to the unknowns
Sepang has not hosted an F1 race since 2017. The circuit was resurfaced in September, but the source expects teams to face an abrasive surface that could offer limited grip until rubber is laid down over the weekend. That combination of low grip and heat-sensitive tyres leaves teams with key questions to answer in practice.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also anticipates significant degradation. Describing the track as looking “like sandpaper,” he said tyre wear could be high, while cautioning that the amount of recent running was unclear and rain might wash rubber away each afternoon. In his view, the weekend could be demanding from every angle.
Friday’s practice sessions will therefore be important for Mercedes to assess degradation and for drivers to learn a circuit that some, including Kimi Antonelli, have not driven before. High heat and humidity, alongside the possibility of rain, add further variables.
Sepang’s long straights may offer Mercedes an opportunity, but Russell’s warning makes tyre control central to that prospect. If the team cannot keep the tyres in a workable window, the same conditions that define the race could also undermine close following and repeat attacks. For now, how those factors interact remains an open question heading into the weekend.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.