KUALA LUMPUR: Before Formula One (F1) cars return to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) this October, Malaysia's comeback to the championship has already begun online.
Shortly after F1 and the FIA confirmed that Malaysia will host the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix from Oct 2-4, teams began rolling out Malaysia-themed artwork, nostalgic throwback posts and videos celebrating Sepang's return to the F1 calendar.
The SIC hosted the F1 Malaysian Grand Prix across 19 editions from 1999 to 2017.
Renowned for its 5.543km layout, sweeping high-speed corners and unpredictable tropical weather, the circuit remains one of F1's most recognisable venues.
For many of them, the circuit existed only through simulators and archive footage.
Mercedes also tapped into nostalgia by sharing an Instagram post titled "Magic in Malaysia: Sepang Memories", featuring 15 photographs from various editions of the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.
Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Audi also joined the celebrations with Malaysia-themed artwork, each paying tribute to Sepang's return to the F1 calendar.
The online celebrations also revived memories of some of Sepang's most iconic F1 moments.
Among them was the dramatic 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix, when Lewis Hamilton's race-leading Mercedes suffered a devastating engine failure with just 15 laps remaining.
That proved to be a pivotal turning point in that season's championship battle, swinging the momentum firmly in favour of his former Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg.
The circuit also hosted one of F1's most memorable wet-weather races in 2009, when torrential monsoon rain forced officials to red-flag the Malaysian Grand Prix after 31 laps.
As the restart never materialised, Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen became part of F1 folklore after changing into shorts and being spotted eating an ice cream while the race was still officially suspended.
Sepang also remains etched in F1 history. Sebastian Vettel still holds the circuit's official lap record of 1:34.080, set for Ferrari during the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, and remains the venue's most successful driver with four victories.
The circuit's final F1 race before leaving the calendar was won by Red Bull Racing's driver Max Verstappen.
Nearly a decade after F1 last raced in Malaysia, the championship's familiar race-week tradition of bespoke artwork, promotional videos and nostalgic throwbacks has returned long before the cars arrive at Sepang.
Former Malaysian F1 driver Alex Yoong said the excitement is unlikely to be limited to the younger generation.
"The drivers will enjoy it, and largely the whole paddock likes coming to Malaysia for the Grand Prix," he told Bernama.
The racing begins only in October, but F1's return to Malaysia has already started online. - Bernama
