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It's race week, and several F1 drivers have already arrived in Malaysia ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang this weekend!
Malaysians have been buzzing on social media as F1 teams, crew, and drivers make their way into the country ahead of the race.
And while some drivers have been busy preparing for the big weekend, others have been making the most of their time in Malaysia — from playing golf and go-karting to cooling off at a waterpark.
Here's what we've spotted so far:
1. It all started with George Russell sharing a "Malaysia bound" post
Mercedes driver George Russell kicked things off by sharing a photo of himself and several fellow drivers on what appears to be a private plane.
The photo featured Alex Albon of Williams, Carlos Sainz of Williams, Lando Norris of McLaren, and Ollie Bearman of Haas.
"Malaysia bound 🇲🇾," Russell captioned the post.
2. The boys went golfing and go-karting in Langkawi
Before heading to Sepang, the drivers were spotted enjoying some downtime in Langkawi.
Alex Albon, Ollie Bearman, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri of McLaren, and Gabi Bortoleto of Audi were seen playing golf and going go-karting on the island.
Looks like they're getting in some fun before the serious racing begins.
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3. Kimi Antonelli spent the day at a waterpark
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli also shared a glimpse of his pre-race activities, as he said he needed a little bit of adrenaline.
The 20-year-old posted a fun video of himself enjoying a day at SplashMania WaterPark in Gamuda Cove.
"Pre-weekend shenanigans," he captioned the video.
4. Mercedes' social media team is also making the most of its time here
Mercedes' social media team has been churning out plenty of content featuring Russell and Antonelli, with PETRONAS serving as the team's title partner.
In one hilarious video, Antonelli can be seen showing Russell filling up a car at a PETRONAS station.
"When you pull up to the petrol station and this guy's at the pump," Mercedes captioned the video.
The two drivers are also scheduled to meet fans at a PETRONAS meet-and-greet at Plaza PETRONAS, KLCC today, 30 September.
5. Valtteri Bottas has been getting his cycles in
The Cadillac driver has also been sharing snippets of his time in Malaysia. Bottas posted a video of himself at what eagle-eyed fans have identified as the Golden Palm Tree Sepang Resort.
Meanwhile, in some Instagram Stories, he can be seen cycling along roads surrounded by palm plantations, saying he was acclimatising to Malaysia's weather.
6. Max Verstappen was spotted playing sepak takraw
And then there's Max Verstappen, who appears to have embraced one of Malaysia's heritage sports.
Red Bull Racing shared a photo of Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo playing sepak takraw alongside some national players.
Anyone fancing a game of sepak takraw?#F1 || #BahrainGP in 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/9W444i78Gk
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 29, 2026
We haven't seen too much from the other drivers just yet, but with the weekend approaching, we'll probably be seeing plenty more of them around
And there's plenty to look forward to on the track too, with seven drivers still in contention for the championship: Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri.
So, keep your eyes peeled — you never know which F1 driver you might spot while you're out and about this week!
