The Sepang Circuit’s return to Formula 1 action saw Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc top the first two practice sessions for its hosting of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Red Bull appeared to signal a competitive spike in form, with Verstappen’s 1:37.520s taking him to the top of the timesheets, almost four tenths clear of George Russell in second, with the Dutchman’s teammate Isack Hadjar third, a further four tenths down.
Charles Leclerc was fourth, two places ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, the two Ferraris sandwiching Andrea Kimi Antonelli in fifth.
Pierre Gasly showed promise for Alpine with P7, with the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad eighth and ninth respectively, with Nico Hulkenberg rounding out the top 10.
The typical Malaysian weather saw temperatures reach 33 degrees, with track temperatures nearing 60 degrees.
Temperatures in FP2 dropped to a slightly more comfortable level, and it was Leclerc who went fastest, his time just eight thousandths of a second short of Verstappen’s time.
Hadjar was second, a tenth behind, with Lando Norris third, a fraction behind. Verstappen was fourth, three tenths behind, with Hamilton fifth and Piastri sixth.
Russell and Antonelli were down in seventh and eighth, with Lawson and Gasly once again making top 10 appearances.
READ MORE – F1 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia – FP2 Results
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