Formula 1 drivers enjoyed a training camp in Langkawi with karting chaos, cycling tours and chess matches.

Seven Formula 1 drivers spent four days together at a resort in Langkawi, Malaysia, ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The group included Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz, George Russell, Ollie Bearman, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto and former driver Roberto Merhi, with Lando Norris joining for chess but skipping the karting.

The trip came together spontaneously when Sainz offered an alternative to flying directly from Baku to Kuala Lumpur. He found a resort with good cycling facilities and a gym, suggesting they spend four days there instead of waiting in the city with fewer planned activities.

At the karting track, Russell used the pseudonym 'G Dawg' and received help from locals who fitted new tires to his kart, making it 1.5 seconds faster than others. The session turned chaotic with drivers putting each other into walls, Bortoleto suffering back bruises, and Piastri nearly breaking a rib.

Despite the fun activities, drivers took the training aspect seriously to prepare for the physically demanding Malaysian and Singapore races. The trip provided rare downtime for competitors to spend time together away from the pressures of race weekends, though Norris noted that racing remains unfriendly once helmets go on.