The circuit was designed by German designer Hermann Tilke as part of a series of major infrastructure projects undertaken by Malaysia's government in the 1990s under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Construction took place between 1997 and 1999 near Putrajaya, the newly founded administrative capital. The intent was to host the Malaysian Grand Prix and position Malaysia as a major venue on the international motorsport calendar.
Tilke would subsequently design numerous other prominent circuits including venues in Shanghai, Sakhir, Istanbul, Marina Bay, and Yas Marina, but Sepang was among his earliest major commissions. The circuit was officially inaugurated by Mahathir Mohamad on 7 March 1999. The first Formula One race, the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, was held on 17 October 1999, and the first MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix followed.
The track was completely resurfaced in 2016 with support from Italian designers Dromo, with several corners reprofiled to emphasise mechanical rather than aerodynamic grip. The final corner was raised by approximately one metre, a change officials said would force drivers to take a later apex and explore different racing lines through the hairpin.
In October 2016 rumours circulated that the circuit might be dropped from the Formula One calendar due to declining ticket sales and rising hosting fees. The 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix was the nineteenth and final World Championship Formula One race held at the circuit, after which the contract expired without renewal.
The main circuit is raced in a clockwise direction and is 5.543 km in length. It is notable for sweeping corners and wide straights ranging from 16 to 22 metres across. The layout is unusual in that a 0.927 km back straight is separated from the pit straight by a single very tight hairpin.
A lap in a Formula One car begins on the long pit straight where a DRS zone is situated. Turn 1 is a very long, slow corner taken in second gear. It leads directly into Turn 2, a tight left hairpin descending quite sharply. Turns 5 and 6 form an extended high-speed chicane known locally as the Genting Curve, placing high G-force loads on drivers. Turns 7 and 8 make up a long medium-speed double-apex right-hander referred to as the KLIA curve. Turn 9 is a slow left-hand hairpin uphill. The back straight provides an overtaking opportunity into Turn 15, a left-handed hairpin taken in second gear.
The circuit also offers two shorter configurations. The north circuit, covering the first half of the main layout, is 2.706 km. The south circuit, using the back straight as its pit straight, is 2.609 km. Kart racing and motocross facilities are also present at the venue.
On 23 October 2011, during the second lap of the MotoGP Shell Advance Malaysian Grand Prix, Italian motorcycle racer Marco Simoncelli was involved in a crash at Turn 11 and died from his injuries, leading to the abandonment of the race.
Two further fatalities occurred at the circuit: Mohamad Izzat during the 2013 Malaysian Super Series, and Afridza Munandar during the 2019 Sepang Asia Talent Cup.
The official lap record for the Sepang International Circuit is 1:34.080, set by Sebastian Vettel during the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix.
The circuit hosts a wide range of motorsport events. Current recurring events include the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Sepang 12 Hours, Sepang 1000 km, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, GT World Challenge Asia, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and various Formula 4 rounds. Past events have included A1 Grand Prix, Formula One, Formula Nippon, Superbike World Championship, Asian Le Mans Series, Intercontinental GT Challenge, GP2 Series, and Formula Regional Asian Championship, among many others.