Charles Leclerc Leads Ferrari One-Two in Malaysia Practice
- Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets at the Sepang International Circuit, setting a 1m37.528s lap to lead the second practice session for the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix...
- Charles Leclerc’s benchmark time placed him 0.099s ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, who maintained his momentum after showing significant pace in the opening practice.
- Mercedes experienced a difficult afternoon in the second session, with George Russell finishing seventh and championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli placing eighth.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets at the Sepang International Circuit, setting a 1m37.528s lap to lead the second practice session for the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The session proceeded in dry conditions despite the threat of heavy rain, which had prompted teams to prioritize early runs on soft tires.
Leclerc Leads Friday Practice
Charles Leclerc’s benchmark time placed him 0.099s ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, who maintained his momentum after showing significant pace in the opening practice. Lando Norris followed in third for McLaren with a 1m37.665s, ahead of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The afternoon session provided more representative data than the opening practice, which was topped by Max Verstappen with a 1m37.520s. Verstappen, a four-time world champion, secured his last victory at Sepang in 2017 when the circuit last hosted Formula 1.
Mercedes Struggles at Sepang
Mercedes experienced a difficult afternoon in the second session, with George Russell finishing seventh and championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli placing eighth. This followed a more competitive opening session where Russell trailed Verstappen by only 0.383s.
Hamilton Faces Blocking Inquiry
Lewis Hamilton is under scrutiny following a blocking incident involving Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto during the second practice session. Bortoleto’s session ended prematurely due to a suspected gearbox issue in the closing stages, compounding a difficult afternoon for the Audi team. Hamilton, who finished fifth in the second session, also faced traffic challenges earlier in the day when he placed sixth in the opening practice.
McLaren Drivers Improve as Hadjar Faces Grid Penalty
The Red Bull and McLaren drivers remain central to the front-running pace. Isack Hadjar, who recorded the second-fastest time in FP2, faces a grid penalty for an upcoming engine change. Meanwhile, the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showed stronger form in the second session, with Piastri finishing sixth, marking a recovery from their performance in the morning when both drivers sat outside the top 10.
Logistics of the Relocated Event
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix is taking place at the Sepang International Circuit, located 6,000 kilometers from the race’s original home, after organizers failed to secure a viable path for the event in the Middle East. The move marks a return to Malaysia for the sport after a nine-year absence. The field continues to adapt to the circuit, which last hosted a Grand Prix in 2017, the same year Max Verstappen claimed his last victory at the venue.