Formula 1's return to Sepang after nine years delivered a wild mix of chaos, milestones, and head-scratching moments, as The Race reports. From Red Bull writing another incredible chapter in its history to teams completely misjudging tyre choices in the tricky conditions, the weekend at Sepang laid bare just how tricky the 2026 regulations can be.
First up, let's talk about the weather. Formula 1 has looked allergic to racing in the rain over the last decade, and the 2026 regulations seem to have made that allergy even worse. A software bug in the electronic control units was exposed by the uniquely low-speed conditions created by the wet circuit. Isack Hadjar, who tested at a wet Suzuka earlier this year, noted that the tyres have zero grip and that running in heavy water would make racing very dangerous. FIA single seater director Nikolas Tombazis admitted he cannot guarantee the specific problem will never happen again, leaving a big question mark over what will happen when these cars finally race in a proper downpour.
Meanwhile, Red Bull has added another stellar chapter to its story by officially becoming a race-winning engine manufacturer. Ford-sponsored Red Bull Powertrains has pulled off something enormous by taking on and beating established F1 engine builders. It is a massive success after years of heavy investment, and it also keeps Max Verstappen's run going of winning a race in every single season he has competed with Red Bull.
Mercedes went into the weekend expecting a gain of three tenths from a major upgrade, but the package has left the team wondering if its car actually went backwards. Mercedes is even considering testing its upgrade versus its old-spec car in Singapore, though that would be tricky given Singapore is a sprint weekend. McLaren also had a rough weekend, lacking competitiveness and ending up fourth-best behind Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari. Team boss Andrea Stella admitted that competitors have developed their cars with bigger steps, while Lando Norris narrowly avoided taking out himself and team-mate Oscar Piastri behind the safety car.
Further down the order, Racing Bulls bagged another double points finish to pull 22 points ahead of Alpine in the fight for fifth in the constructors' championship. Alpine has been troublingly inconsistent, failing to score in three of the past six events. Aston Martin and Honda also enjoyed a wild swing in performance, with Fernando Alonso stealing an unlikely eighth place after gambling on slicks when the race finally started. Haas suffered a painful end to its recent form after splitting strategies between Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman, with Bearman left frustrated by a slick tyre start he did not agree with and team boss Ayao Komatsu admitting regret over the decision.
Ultimately, Sepang proved the immense value of an old-school track on a calendar dominated by city-centre circuits. While there were fan management issues getting out of the circuit, the venue delivered a challenging track with plenty of overtaking opportunities and strategic variation.
