Key Highlights
- Charles Leclerc led FP2 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia for Ferrari.
- Isack Hadjar finished second ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, while Max Verstappen was fourth.
- Gabriel Bortoleto’s stoppage triggered a Virtual Safety Car with two minutes remaining.
Charles Leclerc Leads Bahrain Grand Prix FP2 at Sepang
Charles Leclerc topped second practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, putting Ferrari at the head of the timesheets at the Sepang International Circuit. Isack Hadjar finished second for Red Bull, while McLaren’s Lando Norris completed the top three.
After a dry and sunny opening practice session earlier on Friday, teams entered FP2 with less certain weather conditions. Dark clouds remained over the circuit and forecasts indicated a 90 per cent chance of rain, prompting most of the field to leave the pit lane as soon as the session began at 1600 local time.
Most drivers initially used the medium tyres, while the McLaren and Cadillac driver pairings, along with Pierre Gasly, selected the soft compound. Max Verstappen carried his FP1 pace into the second session by setting an early benchmark of 1m 37.785s, two tenths ahead of George Russell.
Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar reported oscillations on his RB22, while Verstappen also experienced difficulties, telling his team that he was unhappy with his seating position. Around 15 minutes into the session, several drivers, including both Mercedes cars, switched to soft tyres to complete qualifying-style laps before any potential rain arrived.
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Leclerc Moves Ferrari to the Top
Kimi Antonelli had his lap deleted for exceeding track limits, while Russell abandoned his attempt in the final sector. The Mercedes drivers were consequently classified fourth and second at that stage of the session.
There was also a close moment involving Gabriel Bortoleto and Lewis Hamilton. Bortoleto had to take avoiding action after finding Hamilton’s slower-moving Ferrari on the racing line. The incident was noted by the stewards, and Hamilton later reported that he could not “see through my right mirror”.
As the weather appeared to improve around the halfway point, Leclerc set the fastest time of the session with a 1m 37.528s lap. The Ferrari driver moved 0.137 seconds clear of Norris, with Verstappen initially third before Hadjar improved to take second place.
Verstappen and Franco Colapinto were the only drivers yet to use soft tyres as FP2 entered its final third. Bortoleto also asked Audi to inspect his car’s floor after running wide during a multi-lap battle with Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad.
Bortoleto Stoppage Brings Out Virtual Safety Car
Colapinto eventually switched to the soft compound, but Verstappen remained on medium tyres as teams focused on completing their Friday programmes and gathering long-run data. Verstappen stayed in the garage during the closing stages and therefore did not set a lap on the soft tyre.
Yellow flags were deployed with two minutes remaining after Bortoleto stopped at the side of the track. The Brazilian exited his stricken Audi, and race control subsequently introduced a Virtual Safety Car. Leclerc’s earlier lap remained unbeaten when the chequered flag fell.
Hadjar was Leclerc’s closest challenger, finishing just under one tenth of a second behind. Norris was third, followed by Verstappen and Hamilton. Hamilton was due to face an investigation after the session over the alleged impeding incident involving Bortoleto.
Oscar Piastri completed the top six ahead of Russell, Antonelli, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Gasly. Lindblad finished 11th, ahead of Bortoleto, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, Ollie Bearman, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez and Colapinto.
What Happens Next at the Bahrain Grand Prix?
With the first day of track action complete, the drivers and teams will review their performance and tyre data before returning for Free Practice 3 on Saturday at 1230 local time. Qualifying is scheduled to follow later that day at 1600.
Why This Matters
Leclerc’s FP2-leading time gives Ferrari an encouraging starting point after the first full day of running at Sepang, while Hadjar’s second-place finish puts Red Bull firmly among the leading teams. However, Verstappen’s fourth place came without a soft-tyre run, leaving his ultimate qualifying potential difficult to assess from the session results alone.
The changing weather forecast also affected teams’ preparation, forcing them to balance short-run performance against the need to complete long-run programmes. The stewards’ investigation into Hamilton’s alleged impeding of Bortoleto and the Virtual Safety Car caused by Bortoleto’s stoppage add further areas for teams and officials to review before qualifying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was fastest in Bahrain Grand Prix FP2?
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fastest in second practice with a time of 1m 37.528s.
Who finished behind Charles Leclerc?
Isack Hadjar finished second, followed by Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
When are FP3 and qualifying?
Free Practice 3 is scheduled for Saturday at 1230 local time, with qualifying set for 1600.
