Max Verstappen heads into the qualifying session at the Sepang International Circuit with renewed confidence after topping the timesheets in the opening practice and showing strong long-run pace in practice two, racingnews365.nl reported. The reigning world champion drove the 5.543-kilometer circuit during Friday's sessions as Formula 1 returned to Malaysia after a nine-year absence for a Grand Prix officially titled under the banner of Bahrain, following the cancellation of the Sakhir opener.
Verstappen Sets the Early Pace in Sepang Practice
The weekend action commenced under clear skies in Sepang, where Verstappen immediately stamped his authority on the field during the first practice session. NOS Sport reported that the Red Bull driver set a benchmark lap of 1:37.520, leaving his closest challenger nearly four tenths of a second behind. George Russell of Mercedes finished that morning session as the nearest competitor, while Verstappen’s teammate, Isack Hadjar, slotted into third place.
In the second practice session, Verstappen shifted his run plan away from single-lap glory on the soft compound tires. Having utilized multiple sets of softs in the morning, the Dutchman concentrated entirely on race simulations using medium tires, according to NOS Sport’s trackside reporting. Data analysis published by GPFans indicated that Verstappen’s race simulations yielded a distinct advantage, showing the Red Bull charger held a 0.19-second per-lap margin over Russell during long runs, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc trailing by 0.32 seconds per lap.
Mercedes Finds Single-Lap Speed as Red Bull Collects Penalties
While Red Bull dominated the race-pace metrics, Mercedes unlocked its one-lap potential during Saturday morning’s final practice session. According to racingnews365.nl, Andrea Kimi Antonelli surged to the top of the timesheets with a lap in the 1:36 bracket, marking a stark turnaround from a difficult Friday where both Silver Arrows struggled to crack the top five. Verstappen finished that final practice session in second place, trailing Antonelli by roughly two tenths of a second, with Hadjar taking third for Red Bull.
NL Motorsport noted that Verstappen received a black-and-white flag during the practice running after running wide at the final corner and failing to go around the required bollard correctly. Meanwhile, teammate Hadjar faces a stiffer challenge for the weekend grid. GPFans confirmed that Red Bull installed a seventh internal combustion engine into Hadjar’s RB22, triggering an automatic five-place grid penalty for the race.
Technical Upgrades Shape the W17 Field Spread
The competitive order across the pit lane remains volatile as teams adapt to the Sepang layout and varying upgrade packages. Ferrari and McLaren occupied the positions immediately behind the leading Red Bull and Mercedes cars during Saturday morning running, though significant gaps emerged across the field as drivers tested the limits of the newly resurfaced asphalt.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Malaysian Grand Prix
Why is a race called the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place in Malaysia? Following the cancellation of the original season-opening event in Sakhir, the entire race weekend was relocated to the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, where it continues to run under the Bahrain Grand Prix title.
When did Formula 1 last race at Sepang? Formula 1 last visited the Sepang International Circuit in 2017, where Max Verstappen secured victory for Red Bull Racing before the venue dropped off the world championship calendar.
What penalties have been issued so far this weekend? The FIA handed Isack Hadjar a five-place grid penalty after Red Bull fitted a seventh internal combustion engine to his car. Additionally, Lewis Hamilton received a post-session penalty from the stewards following an impeding incident with Gabriel Bortoleto during Friday practice, as reported by GPFans.
