Key Highlights:
- Mercedes standout Kimi Antonelli secured the fastest time in final practice at Sepang, clocking a 1m36.302s to rebound from the team’s difficult Friday sessions.
- Red Bull maintained top-three pace with Max Verstappen claiming second place and teammate Isack Hadjar landing in third.
- A mid-session red flag caused by debris from Oliver Bearman’s Haas preceded a late soft-compound qualifying simulation rush.
Mercedes Bounces Back at Sepang as Antonelli Sets the Benchmark
Kimi Antonelli propelled the championship-leading Mercedes team back to the front of the field by topping the timesheets in final practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The Silver Arrows arrived at the Sepang International Circuit with a heavily upgraded W17 challenger, but Friday’s initial running yielded underwhelming returns, as the team logged second and fifth in Free Practice 1 followed by seventh and eighth in Free Practice 2 while rival outfits demonstrated sharper pace.
The dominant force of the 2026 season delivered a commanding response on Saturday morning. The 20-year-old Italian driver produced an authoritative lap of 1m36.302s, finishing over two-tenths clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who had previously set the standard during Friday’s opening practice hour.
Tyre Strategies and Red Flag Stoppage in FP3
Sepang’s return to the Formula 1 calendar marks the sport’s first appearance at the venue since 2017, an event that capped an 18-year tenure famous for unpredictable, tropical weather. Despite that reputation, conditions remained entirely dry throughout Free Practice 3. However, severe tyre degradation on the hot, low-grip track surface prompted early strategic experiments, including initial work on the hard compound expected to serve as the primary race tyre.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc evaluated the white-walled hard rubber early in the hour, turning in a 1m37.772s to sit third behind the medium-shod McLaren pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Leclerc remained the lone runner on the hard tyre after plans for Mercedes’ George Russell to join the program were interrupted at the 25-minute mark. Race control deployed a red flag when bodywork debris detached from Oliver Bearman’s Haas through Turn 10, bringing a halt to running for eight minutes.
Late Soft-Tyre Qualifying Simulation Push
Once track marshals cleared the circuit, the field engaged in rapid qualifying simulations on the soft compound. Antonelli instantly surged to the summit with a 1m36.924s lap, initially gapping teammate Russell by 0.129 seconds. Leclerc split the Mercedes drivers with a 1m37.016s before Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar jumped to provisional P1 on a 1m36.860s.
The benchmark shifted rapidly in the closing six minutes. Russell trimmed his time to a 1m36.912s, only for Antonelli to unleash his session-topping 1m36.302s, establishing a half-second cushion over Hadjar. Verstappen subsequently slotted his Red Bull into second place with a 1m36.580s, ensuring both Red Bull entries concluded the hour in the top three for the second time this weekend.
Behind the lead trio, Russell took fourth place ahead of Leclerc, who ended 0.714 seconds adrift of Antonelli’s standard. Lewis Hamilton guided the second Ferrari to sixth with a 1m37.041s, followed by Norris in seventh, whose personal best of 1m37.161s stood on medium tyres. Piastri took eighth with a 1m37.366s—1.064s behind Antonelli—prolonging McLaren’s difficult weekend following an 11th and 12th finish in FP1. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Racing Bulls newcomer Arvid Lindblad locked down the remaining positions in the top 10.
Why This Matters
The Sepang circuit presents extreme thermal degradation and aerodynamic demands, making Mercedes’ single-lap recovery critical after their aerodynamic upgrades initially struggled to match Red Bull and Ferrari over Friday’s running. With high track temperatures testing tyre durability, Red Bull’s strong two-car showing in the top three signals intense pressure on Mercedes heading directly into qualifying. Meanwhile, McLaren’s reliance on medium tyres and continued deficit on the timing sheets suggests setup hurdles that could impact their starting positions for the Grand Prix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who set the fastest time in FP3 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
Kimi Antonelli set the fastest lap of the session for Mercedes with a time of 1m36.302s, beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.278 seconds.
Why was the final practice session red-flagged?
The session was paused for approximately eight minutes around the 25-minute mark after debris flew off Oliver Bearman’s Haas car at Turn 10.
Which drivers rounded out the top five in the session?
Antonelli led Max Verstappen in second, Isack Hadjar in third, George Russell in fourth, and Charles Leclerc in fifth.
