F1 drivers predict final corner will deliver drama in Malaysian GP
Formula 1 drivers predict the last corner of the Sepang circuit could throw up some big challenges in the Malaysian Grand Prix – and open up the prospect of decent overtaking.
Photo by: XPB Images
Sepang revamped its track ahead of this weekend and one of the changes included making the final corner off camber to improve drainage – and make the turn tougher.
That has led to drivers needing to take a different approach to the corner than in the past, and the number of errors made there throughout the weekend has teed up the prospect of similar drama in the race.
Sergio Perez said: “It is a difficult last corner. In the past you just saw people doing a normal line but, if you go too much on the inside now, on the exit you are off camber which hurts a lot the traction.
“So I think it is going to be a difficult corner and you will see people make mistakes at that corner because it is a tricky one.”
Daniel Ricciardo thinks that the nature of the camber there – which means cars get washed out towards the kerbs, means that switch-back moves could become a big feature.
“It is an interesting one,” explained the Australian. “Because it is wide you can still dive to the inside, but then the track falls away, so if you stay shallow you will start washing out because you will get a bigger gradient on the off camber.
“I think you will probably see scenarios where people go and dive on the inside, and then you will get switch-back and people cutting back across. So there will be a bit of cat and mouse.
“Hopefully it means a few more exciting racing manoeuvres, and fortunately there are some other good places you can pass, which is good. But the last corner is interesting – yeah!"
Valtteri Bottas reckoned the key to successfully defending there was in being consistent each lap. “It is so easy to lose 0.1 or 0.15 seconds – by locking up and going sideways.
"The main thing there will be trying to be consistent, and for sure it can create some overtaking if you make a mistake there or the guy in front of you does.
“But it is definitely not one of my favourite corners. It is not an enjoyable corner, it is very tricky. But it is the same corner for everyone and it can create some opportunities.”
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