Kimi Antonelli said; Mercedes driver: The very rough asphalt of the Sepang Circuit may become a contributing factor if the Bahrain Grand Prix, held this year in Malaysia, becomes the first race in the rain of the Formula 1 season.
The young Italian driver, who has so far played a season in which all rounds took place in dry conditions, believes that the unique nature of the surface of the Malaysian circuit makes it an ideal environment for testing the 2026 cars in rainy conditions.
Thunderstorms are not exceptional in Malaysia; so; Its tropical nature frequently causes heavy rains and thunderstorms during the afternoons.
Antonelli told reporters: “I think this track will be very good in rainy weather. Because its surface has high porosity; Which means that water does not accumulate on it unless very heavy rain falls,” adding that it contains “the roughest asphalt” he has ever seen in his career.
He added: “If it rains normally, this may be the best track to test these cars for the first time in the rain. Because water does not remain on the surface of the asphalt, but rather seeps between its particles. This reduces the risk of slipping.”
On the other hand, Pirelli warned: The tire manufacturer urged the teams to prepare for harsh conditions, and described the “Sepang” surface as “relatively rough,” with characteristics close to the “Bahrain Circuit.”
While Antonelli sees an opportunity in these conditions, his Mercedes colleague and title rival George Russell, who is 66 points behind him in the standings, expressed his concerns about the significant impact of the track on the tires if the weather remains dry.
Russell said: “The biggest difference between this track and other similar tracks is the excessive heat of the tires,” noting that “Sepang” differs from tracks such as “Melbourne”, “Silverstone”, “Monza” and “Canada”, which have gentler surfaces on the tires.
He added: “The high tire temperature will be a decisive factor here. Tires may begin to lose their thermal efficiency even during the preparation lap in qualifying trials. This may make it difficult to approach the vehicle in front of you or to launch a counter-attack after overtaking; But the picture is still not completely clear at this stage.”
With Sepang returning to host a Formula 1 race for the first time since 2017, after moving the Bahrain Grand Prix due to tensions in the Middle East, the teams do not have any recent data on the performance of the current generation of cars on the Malaysian track.
For his part, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri likened the track's surface to "sandpaper", anticipating high rates of tire wear throughout the weekend.
He said: “I do not know the extent of the activities that the circuit has witnessed recently, but the daily rains are enough to erase most of its effects anyway.”
He added: “It will be a difficult challenge for everyone.”
Antonelli is looking forward to regaining his momentum after what he described as his worst weekend of the season in Baku, where he suffered an accident during qualifying, dropping him to 16th place at the start, before making his way to 5th place in the race.
He said: “I did not enjoy driving much beyond the car’s maximum limits. “I felt slower than I should have been, but I learned that sometimes you have to accept circumstances like this.”
He added: “This was the first time I told myself: Do not risk too much, benefit from the mistakes of others, and focus only on reaching the finish line.”
Yasla: Having a childhood tumor and setbacks shaped my personality
Matthias Jaisse, coach of the English football team Newcastle, said that he suffered a serious illness as a child, in addition to a series of setbacks due to injuries, which shaped his character and forced him to end his career as a player at an early age.
British media reported statements by the German Jaesle, in which he said: “I developed a tumor in my neck when I was five years old, to the point that I was no longer able to move my neck. “That was really a period from which I learned a lot.”
He added: “I was five years old, but I had already learned a lot about life, the importance of being healthy, and how grateful you are to be healthy and able to follow your dream. “It was not certain that I would be able to play football when I was a young child.”
He continued: “That was one aspect, and unfortunately I had very bad luck with regard to injuries.”
Jaisle (38 years old) said that he was absent for a year when he was a player in the youth teams, before he suffered a rupture in the cruciate ligament of the knee at the age of twenty while playing with Hoffenheim in the team’s first season in the German League, after rising twice in a row from the third division. He retired from playing five years later.
He explained that all these setbacks “make you the person you are, whatever side we are talking about, and give you faith in your ability to overcome every obstacle.” Every setback also has a positive side. When you overcome these challenges, you become stronger and more resilient.”
Jaisle turned to the field of coaching through Ralf Rangnick, his former coach at Hoffenheim, in the youth teams at RB Leipzig, where he began working as a trainee. He said, “After two weeks, I felt that joy had returned to my life.”
Jaisle began his coaching career as coach of the Austrian team Levering, then he coached Red Bull Salzburg for two years, before spending three years with Al-Ahly Saudi Arabia in the Saudi Professional League.
Jaisle joined Newcastle, following Eddie Howe's resignation from his position last July, and the team currently ranks ninth in the English Premier League standings.
