SEPANG — Kimi Antonelli has vowed to bounce back and rebuild his runaway advantage in the drivers’ championship as Formula One returns to Malaysia this weekend.

Sepang will host Sunday’s race in place of Bahrain, which was supposed to stage the grand prix in April but was cancelled because of war in the Middle East.

The 20-year-old Antonelli, who finished fifth last weekend in Azerbaijan, leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 66 points following the Briton’s commanding triumph in Baku.

Hampered by a hydraulics failure in practice, Italy’s Antonelli crashed in qualifying and started 16th on the grid as he was beaten by Russell for the first time in six races.

Antonelli said he intends to “re-establish the order” at Sepang International Circuit, which last hosted Formula One in 2017.

“He’s always been my rival,” he said of Russell’s bid to overhaul him and snatch the title.

“But I’ll make sure I re-establish the order and just make sure that I am back to my usual level.”