Key Highlights
- Max Verstappen topped Free Practice 1 at Sepang, clocking a 1m37.520s in his Red Bull RB22 to finish 0.383 seconds clear of Mercedes’ George Russell.
- Sepang International Circuit is hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix in place of the Sakhir venue due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, marking Formula 1’s first event at the track since 2017.
- Drivers battled extreme 32°C heat and humidity, with McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and reigning world champion Lando Norris struggling down in 11th and 12th.
Verstappen Sets the Benchmark on Sepang Return
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen led an uninterrupted opening practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, steering his Red Bull RB22 to the top of the timesheets at the Sepang International Circuit. Verstappen recorded a benchmark time of 1m37.520s, edging out Mercedes rival George Russell by 0.383s. Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar finished third with a lap of 1m38.303s, capping an encouraging start for the Milton Keynes squad following their double podium finish at the previous round.
The session marked Formula 1’s first competitive outing at Sepang in nine years, with Verstappen having claimed victory during the championship’s last visit to the venue in 2017. Sepang has stepped in to host the Bahrain Grand Prix round on behalf of the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir as a direct consequence of the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict.
Sweltering Heat and Contrasting Tyre Programmes
With teams possessing virtually no recent data for the Malaysian circuit, garages were quick to send cars out onto the track as soon as the pitlane opened. The majority of the field opted to run the medium compound tyre early on, where Russell led the pack with an initial 1m38.932s—over half a second quicker than Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
Red Bull diverged from the pack early by bolting on the soft compound immediately. That allowed Verstappen to assert early authority with a 1m38.883s, 0.049s faster than Russell’s medium-shod effort. Hadjar experienced a more demanding opening stint seven tenths back from Verstappen, encountering low grip that triggered a notable understeer snap at Sepang’s final hairpin.
Grip limitations were compounded by punishing weather conditions, with ambient temperatures climbing to 32°C alongside Malaysia’s characteristic high humidity. The heat drew immediate reaction from Audi rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who sat 2.631s off the pace in the opening half-hour.
“This is the craziest I’ve ever been in my life with temperatures,” claimed Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who was 2.631s off the pace during the opening half of the one-hour session.
“Even more than Bahrain in FP1.”
Soft-Tyre Runs Shuffle the FP1 Order
As the session reached its halfway mark, the wider field transitioned to soft rubber. Hadjar initially took over top spot by trimming his run to a 1m38.303s before the Ferrari pairing of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton posted laps within 0.064s and 0.287s of the young Frenchman. Russell then delivered a 1m37.903s aboard his upgraded Mercedes W17 to briefly hold P1.
However, Verstappen quickly reaffirmed Red Bull’s pace, unleashing his decisive 1m37.520s with 25 minutes left on the clock. Teams spent the remaining portion of FP1 focused on higher-fuel race simulations and durability tests on harder compounds, cementing the top three order of Verstappen, Russell, and Hadjar.
Leclerc ended the session fourth, 0.847s behind Verstappen. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli had an untidy session and ended up fifth with a 1m38.580s, narrowly splitting the Ferraris as Hamilton settled for sixth on a 1m38.590s. Pierre Gasly secured seventh for Alpine, having posted the fastest first sector of anyone during his qualifying simulation.
The lower half of the top 10 was locked out by Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad in eighth and ninth, followed by Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg in 10th. It proved a subdued start for McLaren, with Oscar Piastri and reigning world champion Lando Norris managing only 11th and 12th positions, separated by just 0.017s and more than 1.7 seconds adrift of the ultimate pace.
Why This Matters
Sepang’s emergency inclusion on the calendar presents unique engineering challenges for the entire grid. Without modern ground-effect baseline setups for the Malaysian track’s high-speed directional changes and heavy braking zones, teams are forced to compress setup programmes into limited practice time. Furthermore, the extreme tropical heat and humidity introduce severe cooling and tyre degradation hurdles far distinct from traditional twilight running in Sakhir, establishing tyre management and cooling package efficiency as defining factors for the remainder of the Grand Prix weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit?
The Bahrain Grand Prix was moved from the Sakhir circuit to Sepang International Circuit due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, facilitating Formula 1’s first race weekend in Malaysia since 2017.
Who set the fastest time in Free Practice 1?
Max Verstappen set the fastest time for Red Bull Racing with a 1m37.520s, finishing 0.383 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.
Where did McLaren and reigning champion Lando Norris finish?
McLaren endured a difficult start to the weekend, finishing outside the top 10. Oscar Piastri was 11th, 1.756s off Verstappen’s benchmark, while reigning champion Lando Norris finished 12th, 0.017s behind his team-mate.
