Lewis Hamilton identifies two key reasons for F1 to race in Malaysia

Lewis Hamilton has explained why he believes Formula 1 is right to return to the Sepang International Circuit, pointing to the quality of racing the track produces, the "massively physically demanding" nature of the climate — and his own affection for Kuala Lumpur.

The seven-time F1 drivers' champion spoke glowingly about the championship's unexpected return after almost a decade away, ahead of this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Hamilton has a long history with the country's capital city, having previously raced there with McLaren and then Mercedes, with the German team's title sponsor being Petronas, a company headquartered in Kuala Lumpur.

"I always love going to KL [Kuala Lumpur]," the Ferrari driver told media, including RacingNews365. "Had lots of great experiences there with my previous team, and the track is awesome. It is a circuit that does give good racing."

Hamilton said the calibre of racing on offer should be central to any decision over which circuits remain on the calendar.

"And when it comes to deciding what tracks to go through in the year, that should be a part of the decision-making," he added.

"We want good races for fans, not ones that you don't see any overtaking in, so I very much welcome it."

Physical demands ahead

Hamilton won the Malaysian Grand Prix for Mercedes in 2014, but Sepang has not always been kind to him.

Two years later, he arrived on pole position only to retire with an engine failure while leading, a blow that handed Nico Rosberg a championship advantage he would not relinquish, with Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate going on to clinch that year's title.

Nonetheless, Hamilton is relishing a return. He also flagged the brutal conditions drivers face at Sepang, where daytime temperatures regularly climb well past 30 degrees Celsius with humidity above 80 per cent, sapping the body's ability to cool itself inside the cockpit.

Due to the intensity of the environment, drivers can lose upwards of four kilograms of body weight across the 56-lap race.

"I'm looking forward to it," the 106-time grand prix winner said.

"It's a super hot circuit; it's going to be one that's physically massively demanding, so I look forward to that challenge."