Formula 1’s return to Sepang could provide one of the most severe tests yet for the 2026 power units, with the Malaysian circuit’s two exceptionally long straights threatening to bring the controversial superclipping phenomenon back into focus. Although recent FIA changes have reduced the problem, Sepang’s high average speed and limited braking opportunities could force drivers to sacrifice performance in places where they would normally remain at full throttle.
Formula 1 will return to a circuit much loved by fans in November. The event at Sepang, which will not officially be called the Malaysian Grand Prix, has been added as a replacement for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was cancelled in March this year.
A replacement has still not been confirmed for the Jeddah race. The latest rumours identify Imola as a possible candidate, although no official announcement has been made. According to paddock speculation, Portimão would be the most plausible destination if a replacement for Saudi Arabia is also added, given that an agreement has already been reached for 2027.
Sepang’s F1 return could expose the superclipping problem
Formula 1 last raced at Sepang in 2017, the final season before the Halo safety device was introduced. The circuit is popular with both fans and drivers because its numerous heavy braking zones and two extremely long straights create plenty of overtaking opportunities.
Whether in Formula 1 or MotoGP, the demanding layout has traditionally produced entertaining races. However, the characteristics of the 2026 cars risk tempering some of the excitement surrounding Formula 1’s return to the historic Malaysian venue.
Why energy recovery is a major challenge for the 2026 cars
Energy management has been a concern since the roughly 50-50 split between combustion and electric power was first proposed for the 2026 power units. As seen at several races this year, superclipping has become necessary to recharge electrical energy, with different recovery limits applying in qualifying and race conditions.
Superclipping occurs when a car loses speed despite the driver remaining on full throttle because power is being managed or diverted to replenish electrical energy. The effect became especially visible through Suzuka’s famous 130R corner, raising concerns about how the new generation of cars behaves through high-speed sections.
Monza represents one of the biggest remaining questions of the season. With its exceptionally high average speed and several corners taken at considerable velocity, energy recovery may have to occur on the straights or through sections where drivers would ordinarily remain flat out. That risks compromising one of the defining characteristics of Formula 1: watching drivers extract maximum performance from the cars.
Could Sepang become an even greater test than Monza?
Sepang could effectively become a second Monza—or potentially an even more difficult case. The Malaysian circuit combines a very high average speed with two consecutive, seemingly endless straights separated only by a large hairpin.
The FIA changed its energy-recovery regulations after the opening races of the season, and the amount of superclipping has genuinely decreased since those adjustments. However, both Monza and Sepang could cause some of the earlier problems to reappear. The FIA’s efforts to reduce excessive superclipping will therefore face a particularly demanding examination at these high-speed venues.
Much of the excitement surrounding Sepang’s return could be diminished if the cars are seen slowing along the straights or through corners that would normally be taken at more than 200 km/h.
What can Formula 1 do about superclipping at Sepang?
It would be difficult, if not impossible, to solve a problem that has not yet officially occurred at these circuits with the current cars. Superclipping is expected to be particularly powerful and frequent in both Italy and Malaysia, potentially affecting the spectacle and the traditional purity of the racing. However, those predictions could still prove wrong.
Team engineers have already demonstrated this year that some of the most significant problems associated with the new power units can be addressed with the right adjustments. The entertaining overtaking seen recently provides one example of the progress that has been made.
For now, there is little value in assuming that unprecedented energy-recovery phases will inevitably dominate these races. The hope is that the teams and their engineers can identify further remedies before Formula 1 reaches its fastest circuits.
Monza will be a crucial event for understanding the direction of the problem. The behaviour of the power units at the Italian circuit should offer an early indication of what to expect at Baku and Sepang, where energy recovery could potentially overshadow every other performance factor during two key rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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