More than half the F1 grid has never raced at Sepang, including the "home" Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS pair

SEPANG: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS will race on what amounts to home ground this weekend with two drivers who have never driven the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), as more than half the Formula One grid arrives at the track for the first time.

The world championship leader, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and his teammate, George Russell, are among 12 of this season's 22 drivers who have never raced at Sepang, which last hosted F1 in 2017.

The irony is hard to miss. PETRONAS was the title sponsor of the Malaysian Grand Prix for every race held at Sepang from 1999 to 2017, and has been Mercedes' title and technical partner since 2010.

The last time Mercedes raced here, its cars were driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, who now drive for Ferrari and Cadillac.

To mark the homecoming, Mercedes has given its W17 a special design with more PETRONAS turquoise, and both drivers met fans at the Petronas Twin Towers on Wednesday.

Besides Antonelli and Russell, the drivers who have never raced at Sepang are Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad, Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto and Alexander Albon.

Leclerc has driven at Sepang in a practice session, but has never started a race there.

Only 10 drivers bring race experience at the circuit: Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll.

The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia runs from Oct 2 to 4, after the Bahrain race was relocated to Sepang.

A track learned on screen

For most of the newcomers, Sepang has existed only on a simulator or a games console.

Antonelli said he had driven it on the simulator and found it fast and flowing, with long corners that were far from easy.

"It's always very nice as a driver to discover a new track," he said, Sky Sports reported.

Russell has said Sepang was his favourite circuit as a child, though he had only ever driven it on a PlayStation.

Norris, of McLaren, said the track was not entirely unfamiliar, since he had done simulator support for Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne when they raced there years ago.

"But it'll be a first time going to the circuit itself," he told the official F1 website.

Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, fresh from a third-place finish in Baku, said he would take a measured approach, as the circuit's different layout meant the team would have to rethink its setup.

Veterans return to old memories

For the more experienced drivers, the return to Sepang carries memories of victory.

Alonso, who won here three times, in 2005, 2007 and 2012, called the chance to race in Malaysia again an unexpected "golden ticket."

He described Sepang as an incredible and demanding circuit, with heat and humidity like Singapore's, only in daylight.

Hamilton, who won at Sepang in 2014, said he had always loved visiting Kuala Lumpur, but expected this race to be physically punishing.

Verstappen won the last Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017 at the age of 20, the second victory of his career.

"It's a great track. I really enjoy being there. It's very tough, but also degradation will be really tough on the tyres," he said.

Rain and tyres the unknowns

The lack of experience across half the grid is expected to add an element of surprise, on top of the heat, humidity and heavy rain that can arrive with little warning.

Antonelli said teams might have to make two or three pit stops because tyre wear would be high.

Norris predicted a chaotic race, citing Sepang's long straights and corner layout, which he said gave it a feel similar to Monza.

Sepang hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix 19 times from 1999 to 2017 before it was dropped from the F1 calendar.