McLaren can forget about winning in Malaysia as the FIA reveal straight-mode zones for race weekend

F1 Oversteer argues that McLaren faces significant challenges at the upcoming race in Malaysia after the FIA confirmed four designated straight-mode zones for the Sepang International Circuit. Following a point-less outing in Baku where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ranked 16th and 19th in the speed traps, team principal Andrea Stella admitted that McLaren suffers from a concerning deficit in straight-line speed compared to their Formula 1 rivals.

The Sepang event marks the championship's return to the circuit for the first time since 2017, introducing active aerodynamics to the layout. The four straight-mode zones include the pit straight, the stretch between turns 3 and 4, the run from turn 8 to 9, and the approach to turn 15. The article highlights that McLaren has consistently struggled at high-speed tracks with multiple straight-line activation zones throughout the 2026 season.