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Fernando Alonso claims ‘half’ of today’s grid wouldn’t survive Sepang with yesterday’s F1 cars

Fernando Alonso has claimed that “half” of today’s grid would not have been able to survive racing at Sepang in yesterday’s Formula 1 cars. With…

Published: Thursday, 1 October 2026 at 7:30 PM
Fernando Alonso claims ‘half’ of today’s grid wouldn’t survive Sepang with yesterday’s F1 cars
Key Things to Know
  • Fernando Alonso claimed half of today's F1 grid could not survive racing at Sepang in older cars.
  • Sepang is returning to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 2017.
  • Alonso noted modern cars are easier to manage physically due to driver assistance and slower corner speeds.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Fernando Alonso stated that half of the current Formula 1 grid would not have survived racing at the Sepang International Circuit in older-generation cars. With the Malaysian circuit returning to the calendar for the first time since 2017, many active drivers are set to race at the venue for the first time.

Alonso explained that modern cars offer more assistance and slower corner speeds while recharging batteries compared to the past. Recalling his 2005 race, the 45-year-old Aston Martin driver described the physical exhaustion as brutal despite noting that the track remains a significant challenge.

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