Verstappen Leads Practice at Sepang
Max Verstappen tops opening practice session as Formula 1 returns to Sepang
Anonymous
Max Verstappen dominated the opening practice session of the F1 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, posting the fastest lap at Sepang International Circuit Motorsport Week. The Red Bull driver finished nearly four tenths of a second ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, with his teammate Isack Hadjar taking third place. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli rounded out the top five.
The session marked Sepang's return to the F1 calendar for the first time since 2017 Crash, and teams used the hour to gather crucial track data and test different tire compounds and aerodynamic setups. McLaren struggled with both cars finishing in 11th and 12th, while Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad faces a grid penalty following a power unit change BBC.
Verstappen Sets Pace on Malaysian Return
Red Bull came out firing in the first session, with Verstappen edging the field by a commanding margin Motorsport Week. His four-tenth advantage over Russell proved Red Bull's early advantage in setup and tire strategy. Hadjar's third-place finish gave Red Bull two spots in the top three, signaling strong form heading into the weekend.
Mercedes and Ferrari Fight for Position
Mercedes brought a special Petronas-themed livery to their home race in Malaysia BBC, with George Russell showing competitive pace in second place. Charles Leclerc kept Ferrari in contention with a strong fifth-place finish. Kimi Antonelli completed the top five for Mercedes, showing the team has solid speed despite being off Russell's leading pace.
McLaren Struggles While Lindblad Faces Penalty
McLaren faced a difficult session, with both cars finishing outside the top ten BBC. The team worked on Lando Norris' car after his poor Azerbaijan performance, but the adjustments appear to need more development. Separately, Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad incurred an impending grid penalty following a power unit change, which could complicate the team's race strategy.
Sepang Circuit Returns After Nine-Year Absence
The Sepang International Circuit represents unfamiliar territory for many current teams McLaren, Crash, who last competed here in 2017. The opening session proved crucial for gathering baseline data on how 2026 cars perform at this challenging venue. Teams will use Friday afternoon's second session to build on initial findings and fine-tune setups before Saturday qualifying.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
20
Articles
8
Reach
28
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
