- Max Verstappen led FP1 for Red Bull, while Isack Hadjar finished third.
- Hadjar placed second in FP2, with Verstappen fourth after running the Medium tyre instead of the Soft.
- Isack Hadjar will receive a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race after Red Bull fitted a new ICE.
Red Bull shows strong pace at Sepang
Red Bull made a highly competitive start at Sepang, with Max Verstappen topping the opening practice session by a comfortable margin and Isack Hadjar finishing third. The team’s performance immediately suggested that its car was working effectively in the hot and demanding conditions, although overheating remained a concern shared by much of the field.
Hadjar confirmed Red Bull’s pace in FP2 by taking second place, while Verstappen finished fourth. Verstappen’s result came with an important qualification: he was the only driver who did not use the Soft tyre during the session, setting his lap time on the Medium compound instead. The different tyre strategies make direct comparisons between the drivers more difficult, but Red Bull gathered valuable long-run information.
Isack Hadjar faces five-place grid penalty
The main setback for Red Bull was confirmation that Isack Hadjar will take a five-place grid drop for Sunday’s race. The penalty follows the fitting of a new ICE, meaning Hadjar’s strong practice performance will not translate directly into his starting position.
Despite the penalty, Hadjar said Red Bull had a competitive car and believed the team could challenge at the front. He also noted that the circuit remained difficult, with more performance still available from the car and only limited tyre life expected to shape qualifying.
“A very good start to the weekend in terms of competitiveness. The track is very challenging and the conditions are tough, so I feel there’s still a lot of lap time to find. I’m not completely happy with the balance of the car yet, but I’m super happy with our overall competitiveness. Tomorrow, I think Qualifying is going to be very short and sharp, with only a few laps available on the tyres, but I’m looking forward to it. I think we have a good car this weekend and that we can fight at the front.”
Verstappen identifies tyre degradation as key issue
Verstappen recorded a 1:37.520 lap in FP1 and a 1:37.785 in FP2. The Red Bull driver said the heat, track conditions and tyre degradation made it difficult to compare the two sessions, particularly because the team followed different programmes in each practice run.
“I think we had a pretty decent start today. We began well; the track was quite tricky as it was very hot with a lot of degradation, so there are a few things, particularly with the tyres, that we will need to analyse tonight. It was warmer in FP2 and a different programme that we were running, so it is quite difficult to compare the progress between the two sessions. There are still a few things we need to understand better ahead of tomorrow, but we have had two positive sessions, which is good.”
Red Bull prioritises Medium-tyre data
Red Bull Technical Director Pierre Wache described the day as demanding for both the drivers and the car. He said the dusty track surface changed significantly as grip developed, while the team evaluated an updated package brought from Baku and focused on performance through different types of corners, particularly low-speed turns.
Red Bull had expected rain during FP2, but when it failed to arrive, the team shifted its focus toward a long run on the Medium tyre. Wache said understanding tyre behaviour and degradation would be the most important source of information for the remainder of the weekend. That decision left Verstappen without time for a Soft-tyre run, while Hadjar was able to complete one.
“It’s been a challenging day here at Sepang, but also a very interesting one. It has been quite demanding for the drivers and the car because of the heat, but I think we have made a good start to the weekend.
“The track surface was extremely dusty, and the grip evolved a lot throughout the day, but we made a good start in the opening session, evaluating the package we brought to Baku and focusing on different types of corners, particularly in the low speed. Overall, it seems to be working better than what we brought last weekend.
“In the second session, we had expected rain but, when that didn’t appear, we prioritised the long run on the Medium tyre, as gaining data on tyre behaviour and degradation will be the most important thing for the rest of the weekend. In the end, that meant we ran out of time for Max to run the Soft, but Isack had the opportunity, and that was valuable. Isack had a few issues in the session with balance, but we will do our best to iron those out overnight. After that, in terms of relative performance, it is very difficult to judge, but so far, we are happy with where we are.”
Why This Matters
Red Bull’s opening-day results indicate that the team has a competitive package at Sepang, but tyre degradation, evolving grip and the extreme heat remain central factors. The team’s decision to prioritise Medium-tyre long-run data could prove important when assessing race performance, while Verstappen’s lack of a Soft-tyre run leaves his outright qualifying potential less clear.
Hadjar’s five-place grid penalty adds another strategic challenge. Although his FP2 performance placed him among the leading drivers, he will have to recover positions during Sunday’s race after the new ICE fitting. Red Bull will also work overnight to address the balance issues reported by Hadjar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was fastest for Red Bull in FP1?
Max Verstappen topped FP1 with a lap time of 1:37.520. Isack Hadjar finished third in the session with a 1:38.303.
Why did Max Verstappen finish fourth in FP2?
Verstappen finished fourth in FP2 after setting his lap time on the Medium tyre. He was the only driver who did not run the Soft tyre during the session.
Why will Isack Hadjar start five places lower than his qualifying position?
Hadjar will receive a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race because Red Bull fitted a new ICE.
