Waterfalls, chess and kart "carnage": Russell's Langkawi boys' trip before Sepang
George Russell led a group of F1 drivers to Langkawi before the Sepang race, and won a chaotic kart race against Sainz, Albon, Piastri and Bearman.
Before the work at Sepang began, several Formula 1 drivers took a few days off on Langkawi. George Russell organised the trip, which included a waterfall visit, chess and a go-kart race that, in Russell's words, turned into "carnage".
Who went to Langkawi
Motorsport.com reported that the Mercedes driver flew to the island with six other drivers. They included Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman, and Gabriel Bortoleto joined them on track. Russell said the destination was a tip from PETRONAS, his team's title partner.
"So we went with six other drivers, and we had a really amazing time. It's such a beautiful, beautiful place," Russell said. "Langkawi was incredible… The people are so friendly, and it felt like a different world being there."
According to SAYS, the group also played golf. Norris used part of the trip to film content for his Prime docuseries, which also features his McLaren team-mate Piastri.
The kart race result
The highlight was a go-kart race on the island, and video quickly spread on social media. GPBlog published the classification, which put Russell first:
- George Russell – 1:24.214
- Roberto Merhi – 1:24.677
- Carlos Sainz – 1:25.722
- Alex Albon – 1:25.936
- Oliver Bearman – 1:26.255
- Gabriel Bortoleto – 1:26.305
- Oscar Piastri – 1:26.422
Former F1 driver Roberto Merhi split the current grid drivers in second place. Russell was not sure the result told the full story. He called the race "carnage" and admitted he "had no clue who actually won the race".
Different routes to race week
Not everyone went to the island. Russell's team-mate and championship rival Kimi Antonelli stayed around the Klang Valley, visiting a water park at Gamuda Cove and playing tennis. Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas cycled the plantation roads near his Sepang hotel to get used to the heat, as reported by SAYS.
Russell also came back to Kuala Lumpur for a PETRONAS meet-and-greet at Plaza PETRONAS, KLCC, on 30 September. He is the form driver after his Baku win, which cut Antonelli's lead to 66 points.
Why it matters
Light-hearted trips like this are common during F1's busy Asian swing, but this one also gave Langkawi some global exposure. Several of the sport's best-known drivers shared images of the island with millions of followers in the days before the Sepang race. For Malaysian fans, it's a reminder that the "Bahrain" Grand Prix still has a strongly Malaysian feel.
The serious work starts with practice on Friday, 2 October, and the race is on Sunday, 4 October at 3pm.
Key takeaways
- Russell organised a Langkawi trip with six other F1 drivers on PETRONAS's recommendation.
- He topped the group's go-kart race in 1:24.214, ahead of Roberto Merhi and Carlos Sainz.
- Russell called the race "carnage" and said he had "no clue" who actually won.
- Antonelli stayed in the Klang Valley, and Bottas cycled near Sepang to acclimatise.
FAQ
Which F1 drivers went to Langkawi? Reports name George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Alex Albon, Oliver Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Who won the drivers' kart race? George Russell set the fastest time, 1:24.214, ahead of Roberto Merhi and Carlos Sainz, according to GPBlog.
Did Kimi Antonelli join the trip? No. Antonelli stayed around Kuala Lumpur, where he visited a water park and played tennis.
Sources: Motorsport.com, GPBlog, SAYS, Malay Mail