Go-Karts, Bruised Ribs and Chess: How Seven F1 Drivers Ended Up Together in Langkawi Before Sepang
Seven Formula 1 drivers organised an impromptu getaway to the island of Langkawi in Malaysia between races, blending training with downtime ahead of the Sepang Grand Prix. The idea came from Carlos Sainz, who proposed a resort stay instead of flying straight to Kuala Lumpur after noticing several drivers were travelling at the same time from Azerbaijan. The group included Sainz, Alex Albon, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto, Oliver Bearman, and later Lando Norris, along with former driver Roberto Merhi.
The itinerary included go-karting that quickly descended into chaos, cycling tours, chess matches, gym sessions and boat trips. “It was carnage… Bortoleto ended up with bruises, Piastri almost broke a rib — it was like a banger race!” Russell said. Norris skipped the karting, preferring some personal time and explaining how drivers keep their competitive and friendly sides separate.
“Normally on race weekends we never really see each other… the island was fun because it turned into a bit of a social experiment,” Sainz said. Bearman added that the trip combined a holiday with serious preparation for the physically demanding Malaysian and Singapore rounds.
Source: Formula1.com
