Whereas Formulation 1 has already reached the sixteenth spherical of the 2026 season, followers have nonetheless not been handled to a wet-weather race below the brand new rules – or perhaps a moist session. Rain has threatened on a number of events, however the on-track motion has persistently remained unaffected.
Following preliminary issues about security in moist circumstances, the FIA has made a number of modifications to this yr’s rules. These embody growing the tyre blanket temperatures for intermediates, capping electrical energy and, associated to that, banning enhance mode within the moist.
Other than that, there are additionally issues concerning the tyres. A number of drivers have mentioned that they struggled to get the intermediates as much as temperature – and subsequently hold them there. It meant Pirelli was fairly eager to have a wet-weather race in Miami, the place ambient temperatures are excessive, whereas a possible moist race in Montreal was described as “the right storm” because of the low temperatures and a structure the place it’s tough to get the tyres as much as temperature anyway.
In Canada, McLaren did begin on intermediates, though that turned out to be the improper alternative as additional rain didn’t materialise. And so F1 continues to be ready for its first wet-weather race below the brand new technical rules.
Whereas drivers nonetheless have some issues about security even after the FIA’s modifications – Isack Hadjar referred to as it “harmful” – Pierre Gasly sums up the sensation of many within the paddock: the Sepang Worldwide Circuit would successfully be the ‘best’ location for a wet-weather race in 2026.
“I believe out of any monitor within the season, if one is nice for moist, it is in all probability right here,” Gasly mentioned when requested a couple of potential wet-weather race by Autosport.
“Should you’ll ask me about Vegas in loopy chilly circumstances and, nicely, it nonetheless may occur there, however then it’s positively going to be extra difficult.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
“However right here the monitor is basically tough, it is actually scorching and there is a little bit of elevation change as nicely, so it must be fairly good to clear the monitor by way of water amount. So I believe it will likely be tremendous.”
Gasly’s experiences with the 2026 automobile within the moist to date haven’t been optimistic, however these circumstances weren’t consultant of what drivers may doubtlessly face in Malaysia: “The one time I attempted was in January at Silverstone, which was horrendous. After which in Magny-Cours with extraordinarily chilly circumstances, which did not really feel good in any respect. However I anticipate it to be in a significantly better place right here.”
It’s a idea shared by tyre provider Pirelli. Chief engineer Simone Berra acknowledges that Sepang can also be the absolute best location for them to check the wet-weather tyres.
“I wish to collect some info as a result of it is good to have suggestions, not simply from our assessments, but additionally from regular working with all of the groups and all of the drivers,” Berra confirmed when requested concerning the prospect of rain by Autosport.
“Actually, as an engineer, I wish to have some extra suggestions and information to work with. And, sure, that is the right circuit to have rain.
“Once we went to Montreal, I mentioned it might be the right storm as a result of it was chilly with a low-energy circuit, however right here it is a utterly completely different story.”
Rain is seen on the pitwall
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
It signifies that if there are issues with the tyres, they are going to be of a really completely different nature from these feared in Montreal. There, drivers may have struggled to get the tyres as much as temperature, whereas in Malaysia the alternative might be the case – not solely due to the excessive temperatures, but additionally because of the extraordinarily tough asphalt.
“The purpose is that we may find yourself in a scenario the place you generate overheating, particularly if it is raining after which dries up fairly shortly”, Berra mentioned. “So the overheating impact might be essential.”
One other atypical issue is that groups typically need to use the total wets as little as doable, however Pirelli expects a special scenario in that respect as nicely on the circuit close to Kuala Lumpur.
“When it rains right here, it is fairly huge and I might see the total moist as the popular race tyre,” Berra mentioned. “That’s in all probability for as soon as, as a result of we all know that normally groups want the intermediates. However we additionally know that right here it is typically like a monsoon and it’s worthwhile to have correct water dissipation for that.
“However let’s first see if it may rain or not, as a result of that is in all probability the primary yr that we’re at spherical 16 with out rain! But when it comes, then I believe the total moist is to not be discarded, regardless of that tyre overheating in a short time. With a excessive stage of standing water, I believe it might work fairly nicely.”
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