Sepang Track Guide

Turn 3 isn't considered by many of the drivers as a corner, as it is a flat-out blast towards Turn 4. It is similar in ways to the sweep down to the hairpin at Hockenheim, and the advantage of this is that turbulent air shouldn't be as much an issue and this should create a possibility for a chance to overtake—although this shouldn't be an issue with the new regulations. Turn 4 is a second gear, 90-degree right hander which seems simple at first but can be tricky to take. The cars tend to understeer as the drivers initially turn in, making clipping the apex hard, but in order to get a good lap they have to clip the apex, so with the new regulations permitting the driver to change the front wing angle twice a lap expect it to be used a lot here, especially during qualifying.

Turns 5 and 6

The first of the two fast chicanes on the circuit and the two corners that the drivers enjoy the most. Despite the short run from Turn 4, the drivers are already hitting 150mph as they turn left into Turn 5 and they sweep into the corner, dealing with g-forces of 2.5 in the middle of the corner. Then it is immediately right into Turn 6 - something which some drivers over the years have failed to achieve as it is easy to understeer wide and across the grass. It is important for the drivers to keep up a high minimum speed here in order to achieve a good lap time, and on a good lap the drivers will be hitting around 165 MPH as they exit Turn 6.

Turns 7 and 8

Yet another set of corners that can be counted together, and a very impressive set of corners. The drivers approach Turn 7 at around 170 MPH and touch the brakes and flick down 3 gears, turning right as hard as they can to clip the apex of the corner. Then Turn 8 follows immediately, not even allowing the drivers time to straighten the steering wheel as they must continue turning right and clip the apex once again. If a car is set up good then they will be able to take Turn 8 full throttle, whereas a car with problems will need to take a small confidence lift. However not every driver who takes it full throttle can make it through here unscathed - Robert Kubica spun here in 2007, and Felipe Massa spun into retirement at the same corner a year later

Turn 9

The slowest corner on the circuit can be more tricky than it first seems. The cars brake heavily on the right hand side before turning in, once again clipping the apex, before trying to get as much as traction as possible exiting the corner. Bizarrely, this is the most popular spot on the circuit for the leaders to lap slower cars, and over the years has seen some overtaking moves - some successful (notably Schumacher and Barrichello in 2001 in drying conditions) but mostly unsuccessful (Irvine on local hero Alex Yoong back in 2002).

Turns 10 and 11

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