Key Highlights: Friday practice ran 4.5 seconds off projected lap times due to low grip on the track surface, prompting teams to adapt run plans around severe tyre degradation. Pirelli reported massive degradation of two to three tenths of a second per lap, triggering a vicious cycle of sliding and thermal degradation on both the ...
Key Highlights: Formula 1âs return to Sepang for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia began with a closely matched second practice session. The top four teams were separated by less than four-tenths of a second. Tyre degradation dominated team-radio messages and post-session discussion, leaving the leading contender unclear. Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix Practice Produces ...
Key Highlights: Charles Leclerc says tyre degradation will be the âmain talking pointâ at Sepang this weekend. Ferrari topped FP2 through Leclerc, but he believes Red Bull and Mercedes may still be more competitive. Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur warned that extreme conditions and limited grip are creating major setup challenges. Charles Leclerc identifies tyre ...
Key Highlights Mercedes introduced its latest upgrade package during Friday practice in Malaysia. George Russell finished second in FP1 but dropped to seventh in FP2, while Kimi Antonelli was eighth. Mercedes identified tyre overheating, degradation and setup as key areas to address before qualifying. Mercedes upgrade package faces early test in Malaysia Mercedesâ new Formula ...
Key Highlights: Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur says the team must tailor car set-up strictly around race pace due to severe tyre degradation at the Sepang International Circuit. The high-wear Malaysian track marks a stark contrast to recent low-degradation venues such as Monza, Madrid, and Baku. Following a practice session led by Max Verstappen, Ferrari ...
Key Highlights: The Sepang International Circuit makes a one-off return to Formula 1 in 2026 as a proxy host for the Bahrain Grand Prix, confronting teams with extreme heat, abrasive asphalt, and weather volatility. Drivers face severe battery management constraints across Sepang’s long straights, alongside major concerns over severe tyre degradation and rear surface overheating. ...
Mercedes Leads Long-Run Pace in Spanish GP Friday Practice George Russell set the benchmark during Friday’s practice sessions for the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, posting the fastest long-run average with a heavy fuel load. Max Verstappen remained the closest challenger, trailing the Mercedes driver by just 0.13 seconds per lap after adjustments for tyre ...