Alpine heads to Sepang needing to put the chaos of Baku firmly behind it, with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia offering Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto an immediate opportunity to recover from a costly Azerbaijan weekend. Before thinking about points, however, the French team needs a clean Grand Prix: complete every session, avoid mistakes and incidents, and once again make use of a car that had shown encouraging signs in recent races.
Alpine left Baku in the worst possible way after Franco Colapinto’s mistake triggered a collision involving teammate Pierre Gasly and reigning world champion Lando Norris, forcing all three drivers out of the race. The incident was significant both in its dynamics and consequences, while the inevitable controversy that followed only added to a difficult weekend for the Enstone squad.
Sepang could provide the right opportunity to reset. Formula 1 returns to the Malaysian circuit for the first time since 2017 in unusual circumstances, with the Bahrain Grand Prix moved to Malaysia after the originally scheduled event at Sakhir was postponed. The Sepang race takes place between Azerbaijan and Singapore as part of a demanding run of races on the 2026 calendar. The unusual relocation has been officially confirmed by Formula 1 and the FIA.
Sepang presents a completely different challenge for Alpine
The Malaysian circuit will provide a very different test from Baku. Medium- and high-speed corners, two long straights and significant braking zones will place different demands on the cars, while the heat and humidity will make the weekend physically demanding for the drivers. Sepang’s traditional threat of rain adds another variable.
The race is scheduled for October 2-4, with 56 laps around the 5.543-kilometre Sepang International Circuit. Alpine will be hoping its recent improvement can translate across a circuit with very different characteristics from the streets of Baku.
Pierre Gasly returns to the circuit where his F1 career began
For Pierre Gasly, the return to Malaysia carries particular significance. Sepang was the venue of his first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2017, giving the Frenchman an additional emotional connection to this weekend.
“I have some great memories of Malaysia because this is where I made my Formula 1 debut in 2017,” Pierre Gasly recalled. “The other day I was looking at some photos from that weekend and it’s incredible to see how much the cars and the sport have changed since then. I’ve changed a bit too: I was definitely younger, fresher and I think my neck has doubled in size!”
After what happened in Azerbaijan, Pierre Gasly used the limited time available before the second event of the Asian triple-header to recover.
“I went back home to Milan to rest for a few days between Baku and Sepang. I feel in great shape and ready for the challenge.”
Pierre Gasly is also well aware of how demanding the Malaysian venue can be.
“I know how tough the conditions are with the heat and humidity, without forgetting the ever-present risk of rain. The track is also quite fast and physically demanding. I hope we can maintain the good level of performance we have shown in recent races.”
Franco Colapinto prepares for first Sepang weekend after Baku crash
The situation is different for Franco Colapinto, who will race at Sepang for the first time. Following the difficult end to his Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Argentine travelled to Enstone to prepare for Malaysia in the simulator, with his working schedule even adjusted to help him adapt to the Asian time zone.
“After Baku I went to Enstone as planned to spend a day in the simulator. It was quite unusual because we were preparing for the time difference, so I was at the factory at five in the morning with my engineers,” Franco Colapinto explained.
For Franco Colapinto, avoiding complications from the opening practice session will be particularly important after his costly error in Azerbaijan. Formula 1 confirmed that he locked up at Turn 1 on the Safety Car restart, hit Pierre Gasly and subsequently involved Lando Norris, eliminating all three from the race.
“The objective will be to have a productive Friday, find a good setup window and hopefully get back into the fight for the top ten over the following two days.”
Steve Nielsen backs Alpine to fight for points in Malaysia
The potential of the Alpine gives the team greater ambition than the Baku result alone might suggest. Steve Nielsen highlighted how the car’s performance has improved since the summer break and made Alpine’s target for Sepang clear.
“The performance of our car since the summer break has been good and we hope to continue in that direction in Malaysia,” Steve Nielsen explained. “It’s a track with many medium- and high-speed corners and two long straights that should provide overtaking opportunities. We have confidence in our package and we arrive with the objective of getting back into the points and recovering ground in the championship.”
Alpine had actually been heading towards a strong result in Baku before the collision, with both Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto running inside the top ten before the incident. Any points recovered at Sepang could therefore be important as the team attempts to regain ground in the 2026 Formula 1 championship.
Before points, however, Alpine primarily needs a weekend without further disruption. Baku left consequences and controversy that the team has every reason to move beyond quickly.
Sepang will demand speed and performance, but above all clarity and precision. After such a chaotic Sunday in Azerbaijan, simply bringing both cars to the chequered flag without mistakes would already represent the first important step towards restoring some calm inside the Alpine garage.
Formula 1’s return to Malaysia also forms part of a heavily revised closing phase of the season, with Sepang now officially hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix before the championship moves on to Singapore. The broader schedule can be followed through the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
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