Verstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice

Max Verstappen claimed the fastest lap in the opening practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was held at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit for the first time in nine years. The Dutch driver posted a time 0.383 seconds quicker than Mercedes‑driven George Russell, the recent Azerbaijan winner, while Red Bull’s second car, driven by Isack Hadjar, was third fastest, 0.783 seconds off the pace. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc followed, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes separating him from teammate Lewis Hamilton. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the top seven, and the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad were set to start from the back after receiving grid penalties for exceeding their allocated engine components, a sanction also expected for Hadjar.

The session highlighted the severe tyre degradation caused by Sepang’s abrasive surface, a factor that troubled many drivers, notably Russell, whose Mercedes tyres wore unusually fast compared to Verstappen’s. Mercedes, having introduced a major aerodynamic upgrade—including a new floor and rear bodywork—since the Canadian Grand Prix, were keen to assess its performance on the demanding track. Despite expectations that McLaren would excel, the team’s drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris posted modest times in 11th and 12th places, indicating the upgrade’s mixed impact and underscoring the circuit’s challenging nature.

The Bahrain Grand Prix’s relocation to Malaysia stems from the cancellation of the original Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds due to the Middle East conflict earlier in the year. Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa negotiated the move, and the event will feature Bahrain‑related festivities at Sepang, with the traditional trophy and rosewater spray replacing champagne on the podium. The practice session’s tyre wear concerns and the grid penalties for Lawson, Lindblad, and Hadjar set the stage for a strategic battle in the upcoming race, affecting teams’ approaches to tyre management and engine usage.

⚡ Effects Interpreter