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Verstappen Leads First Practice at Bahrain GP in Malaysia

7:04 AM ETConfirmed

Sports Desk

In Short: Max Verstappen topped the timesheets in the first practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is being held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

Max Verstappen led the first practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, setting the fastest time ahead of George Russell and Isack Hadjar.

The race is taking place at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia due to the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, which forced the cancellation of the original Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds.

Verstappen's time of 1m37.520s was 0.383 seconds faster than Russell's, who was driving an upgraded Mercedes car.

Red Bull's strategy of using soft tires from the start of the session allowed Verstappen to set an early pace, while most other teams started with medium tires.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth, nearly a second behind Verstappen, and McLaren's drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were further back in 11th and 12th positions.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies noted that Verstappen and Hadjar quickly found a rhythm despite the difficult conditions.

Russell reported unusually high tire degradation during a race-simulation stint, which the team described as an outlier compared to Verstappen's performance.

The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is being held in Malaysia, with the race still carrying the Bahrain title and associated ceremonial elements.

The second practice session began at 16:00 local time (09:00 BST), with teams continuing to assess their strategies and car setups.

Verstappen's strong performance in the first practice session suggests he could be a contender for the race, but the varying strategies and conditions make it difficult to draw firm conclusions.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Red Bull's Max Verstappen topped the timesheets as Formula 1 returned to the Sepang track for the first time in nine years for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
• Verstappen spent the entirety of the opening session on soft tyres, when compared to the majority of his rivals, who spent a lot of time on medium tyres.
• Behind the Red Bull driver was the Azerbaijan Grand Prix winner, George Russell, who was 0.383 seconds behind Verstappen, as his time with the new Mercedes updates began.
• Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc found himself within a second of Verstappen, as he ended up in fourth place and was 0.847 seconds behind the Dutch driver.
• It was a tricky start to the weekend for the McLaren drivers, as neither Oscar Piastri nor Lando Norris was inside the top ten, as they ended up in 11th and 12th places, and were both over 1.7 seconds behind Verstappen.
• Max Verstappen topped the opening Practice session in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia The last F1 race at the Sepang International Circuit was won by Max Verstappen, and the Dutch driver returned to the top of the timesheets in Malaysia as he topped FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
• After renewing with Aston Martin for the 2027 season, Fernando Alonso ended the opening Practice session in 14th place, but was 2.163 seconds behind Verstappen.
• The second practice session begins at 16:00 local time (09:00 BST).
• Max Verstappen set the early practice pace on Formula One’s return to Malaysia for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
• The sport is back at the Sepang International Circuit, 40 miles south of Kuala Lumpur, after nine years away as the venue plays host to the rearranged Bahrain GP – cancelled earlier this season because of the Middle East conflict.

What's still developing

• How Antonelli is proving unbeatable, even when he's beaten F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Verstappen pips Russell to top FP1 Colapinto handed extra grid penalty at F1 Bahrain GP Mercedes introduces new floor, sidepods for F1 Bahrain GP LIVE: F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia updates - FP1 From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you.
• The four-time world champion posted a 1m37.520s to go 0.383s quicker than second-placed George Russell of Mercedes, with Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar completing the top three on a 1m38.303s.
• The upgraded W17 was therefore looking fast, but so was the RB22 – last weekend it took its first double podium of 2026 – as Verstappen soon went 0.383s quicker with a 1m37.520s.
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• The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were cancelled at the beginning of the year as a result of the war in the Middle East.
• But Bahrain were keen to hold their race and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa negotiated to hold the race in Malaysia.
• A bunch of Bahraini-related activities are being held at the track, while the trophy presented will be the Bahrain Grand Prix trophy and rosewater rather than champagne will be sprayed on the podium.
• With the Sepang International Circuit having last hosted an F1 event back in 2017, many drivers on the grid had not previously experienced the Malaysian track – meaning that Friday’s first practice offered a valuable initial opportunity to get to grips with the venue.
• Verstappen remained at the top of the order as the session reached its halfway point, while Lindblad had climbed up to P3 to split the Silver Arrows.
• An even quicker time from Verstappen returned the Dutchman to the top spot on a lap of 1m 37.520s, beating Russell’s effort by nearly four tenths.
• Russell had briefly led the late qualifying simulations with a 1:37.903, but Verstappen answered with a 1:37.520.
• Russell came to within 0.049 seconds of Verstappen's earlier benchmark on the harder compound before the field switched to soft tires for the final quick laps.

Sources

• AutoRacing1.comlink
• Autosportlink
• BBClink
• Crash.netlink
• Fakenham Timeslink
• Formula 1link
• Grandprix.comlink
• LiveonScore.comlink
• Malay Maillink
• PlanetF1link
• Racingnews365link
• SPEEDWEEK.comlink
• Somerset County Gazettelink
• Sportscape Magazinelink
• The Racelink
• newsofbahrain.comlink
• افكار ويوميات ام البنات👩‍🍳 — video link