Sepang emerges as F1’s wet-weather testbed for 2026
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 3, 2026
Wet-weather testbed
Formula 1 had spent most of 2026 waiting for a real wet test. By round 16, the series still had not seen a wet session or a wet race under the new regulations, even though the season had already brought several rain threats. That left teams and tire makers with a limited read on how the cars would behave when rain arrived, and it added value to every circuit that could deliver meaningful running in the wet. The FIA revised the 2026 wet-running rules by warming intermediate tires more, capping electrical power in the wet and banning boost mode when the track was soaked. Pierre Gasly said Sepang would be the easiest place for a wet-weather race that season. Its rough surface, hot conditions and elevation changes made it well suited to wet racing.
Sepang data point
Pirelli chief engineer Simone Berra called Sepang the best circuit for collecting data on the new wet tires. Berra said Malaysia posed a different tire challenge from Montreal, with overheating more likely than failure to reach operating temperature if rain stopped quickly. Berra also said full wet tires could be the race tire of choice at Sepang if a heavy Malaysian downpour hit. In a season shaped by rain threats but little wet-track evidence, Sepang stood out as a chance to study the new rules in wet conditions.
Antonelli and Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli said Sepang was the best track to try the 2026 Formula 1 cars in the rain, and his case was built on the circuit’s layout. He said the open tarmac reduced standing water and the risk of aquaplaning, which gave drivers a cleaner read on grip. In Antonelli’s view, the circuit would be “quite OK” in wet conditions if it rained normally. Heavy rain could change that picture. Early signs from first practice showed high tire wear, and Mercedes was especially affected. Antonelli and George Russell both said tire overheating and degradation would be a major challenge if the race stayed dry in the hot conditions.
