Williams F1

A purpose-built facility, Sepang’s 5.543km lap provides a blend of medium and high speed corners interspersed with several slow speed sections and blisteringly fast straights. Such a dynamic track poses a particular challenge for the drivers and their engineers as a quick lap depends on a car with a well balanced set-up for the complex mix of corners, plenty of power for the quick straights and sufficient cooling capabilities to counterbalance the extremes of temperature and powerful humidity.

With temperatures reaching 40°C in Kuala Lumpur, climatic conditions can play a significant role in the outcome of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Coupled with the high humidity levels and the constant threat of heavy downpours, the drivers and their cars will be pushed to thermal limits. As temperatures soar so will the heat in the cockpit, and the driver’s physical and mental fitness levels will be severely tested as they lose over a litre of fluid per hour in the race. Engines will also be strained as they are fired up for a second outing in Malaysia. Sepang is not regarded as a power circuit, with the time spent at full throttle relatively low, but containing oil temperatures in the extreme heat, while not compromising aerodynamic efficiency, will be imperative for their reliability.

Technical Information
Kilos per lap: 2.34kg/km
Time loss per 5km of fuel: 0.07s/lap of fuel
Vmax: 300kph
Average speed: 210kph
Average corner speed: 138kph
Turn angle: 136 degrees
Temperatures: Ambient 34C / Track 44C
Greatest power reductions: 1004 mbar pressure
Pitlane loss: 18.8 sec lost
Pitlane length: 420m
Safety cars: 0.3 per race

Circuit Statistics Legend
Kilos per lap: This indicates the amount of fuel required to complete a lap of each circuit normalised for a 5km lap, thereby indicating the relative fuel demands of each circuit.

Time loss per 5km of fuel: This metric indicates the relative penalty at each circuit of carrying 5km of fuel.

Vmax: The highest top speed at each circuit, one variable in the aero map for each track profile.

Average speed: Velocity averaged over the circuit distance, another variable in determining the aero map.

Average corner speed: In contrast to Vmax which indicates highest speeds achieved normally on the longest straight of the circuit, average corner speed indicates the aggregated speeds through all corners on any given circuit, providing an insight to the nature of the circuit profile.

Turn angle: Average turn angle indicates the average angle of a circuit's corners expressed in degrees. The higher the average turn angle, the more acute the corners in the circuit's configuration and the greater propensity for understeer to compromise lap time.

Temperatures: Average ambient and track temperatures have a bearing on many variables, from tyre warm-up to significant car cooling requirements. And if you need to open the bodywork for cooling, you have to consider the potential drag penalties.

Greatest power reductions: Air density has a bearing on engine power and the most influential factor in air density is air pressure, determined by the elevation above sea level.

Pitlane loss: The time lost (excluding stationery time) entering and exiting the pitlane, providing an indication of not just the pitlane length, but also its profile.

Pitlane length: The entry to exit distance of each pitlane.
Safety cars: A variety of past statistics indicates the likelihood of the safety car's possible intervention.