KUALA LUMPUR — Seven years may have passed, but British Formula One (F1) ace Sir Lewis Hamilton still fondly recalls the challenges of racing in the sweltering heat of the Malaysian Grand Prix (GP) at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
The 39-year-old Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver described the experience as both “daunting and challenging,” yet one he relished.
“The races we used to have here (in Malaysia) were the most extreme because of the intense heat… and, on top of that, we had to race in the daytime,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.
He’s right—at Sepang, temperatures can soar to 32°C with 70% humidity.
“It’s just too hot—for the drivers and the tyres—just like in Singapore,” he added, referring to the recently concluded Singapore GP.
The British driving champion explained that F1 races on Southeast Asian tracks are among the toughest and most physically demanding due to the region’s hot and humid climate.
Still recovering from borderline heatstroke after the September 22 Singapore GP, Hamilton singled out Sepang as the most extreme circuit heat-wise.
The seven-time world champion, who fell ill after the Singapore race, was even excused from the mandatory media conference after Mercedes requested a medical exemption for both him and teammate George Russell.
“It’s always very, very hot here,” Hamilton said during a stopover in Kuala Lumpur after the Singapore GP.
He shared that he has been constantly rehydrating after suffering from heatstroke and admitted he’s feeling “very tired.”
“I love racing at Sepang. The track was incredible—it was a great circuit… but Singapore is also really fun,” he said.
At the Singapore GP, Russell finished fourth, and Hamilton came in sixth.
A week earlier, at the Azerbaijan GP in Baku, Russell secured a third-place finish while Hamilton, who started from the pit lane after an engine penalty, finished ninth.
The SIC was home to the Malaysian GP between 1999 and 2017 before it was dropped from the F1 calendar due mainly to rising costs.
In his last race at Sepang in 2017, Hamilton finished second, 12.77 sec behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Reflecting on the intense conditions, Hamilton said: “Singapore is very humid, even at night. It’s still physically demanding because it’s bumpy and the track is long.”
The Marina Bay street circuit is considered the most physically demanding race of the F1 season.
Like other street circuits, such as Monaco, its shorter straights offer little rest, and the tight, twisty layout requires drivers to stay fully focused throughout the race.
When asked how he prepares for races in different cities, conditions, and time zones, especially when they’re held back-to-back, Hamilton shared: “You can’t be too heavy, so you can’t eat too much. Then, there’s the challenge of managing sleep with the time zone changes.”
As for his time with Mercedes-AMG Petronas, which will end after this season, Hamilton reflected on their shared achievements over the past 11 years.
“It’s been amazing. We’ve grown together in a really positive way,” he said.
Hamilton, who signed with Mercedes in 2012 and will join Ferrari in 2025, expressed his gratitude for his time with Petronas.
“I wish everyone at Petronas good health and positivity,” he said, adding that he hopes the company continues to push for positive change, especially within Malaysia.
Hamilton also praised Petronas for providing opportunities to young people in education, careers, and even exposure to F1 races, as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. — September 29, 2024