Kimi Antonelli set the pace during the final practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang Circuit, clocking a lap time of 1:36.302 to put Mercedes at the top of the timing sheets. With a humid track temperature and abrasive asphalt conditions testing the Formula 1 field, the Italian finished nearly three tenths of a second clear of his nearest challenger as teams prepared for afternoon qualifying.
Verstappen and Hadjar Lead Red Bull Charge in Malaysia
Max Verstappen maintained his strong form from Friday by posting the second-fastest time of the session at 1:36.580 in his Red Bull, just ahead of teammate Isack Hadjar. The 22-year-old French driver, fresh off his podium finish in Azerbaijan, logged a 1:36.860 to secure third. Hadjar recently asserted that Red Bull’s machinery has reached parity with Ferrari and McLaren following a contract extension keeping him through 2027.
George Russell steered his Mercedes to the fourth-fastest time with a 1:36.912, finishing roughly six tenths behind his teammate Antonelli. Russell enters the weekend trailing Antonelli by 66 points in the world drivers’ championship standings.
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Ferrari Completes the Top Six as McLaren Hides Pace
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top six positions for Ferrari, registering times of 1:37.016 and 1:37.041 respectively. Leclerc caught attention early in the session by running a set of hard compound tires, an unusual strategy for a practice run that leaves the Monegasque driver with fewer fresh sets for the 56-lap grand prix distance.
McLaren appeared to hold back its true potential during the morning running. World champion Lando Norris managed only the seventh-fastest time at 1:37.161—setting his best mark on medium compounds rather than softs—while teammate Oscar Piastri slotted into eighth place with a 1:37.366.
Red Flag Interrupts Practice at Sepang
The session saw a brief interruption after 25 minutes when Oliver Bearman’s Haas shed a small piece of carbon fiber from its front-right brake duct into turn 10. Race control deployed a red flag to allow marshals to clear the debris, halting track activity for approximately five minutes before teams resumed their qualifying simulations.
Franco Colapinto finished ninth for Alpine with a 1:37.920, leading a midfield pack that saw Arvid Lindblad take tenth for Racing Bulls ahead of Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
High Temperatures and Abrasive Track Challenge F1 Teams
Formula 1’s return to Sepang after a nine-year absence has presented teams with soaring cockpit temperatures reaching up to 60°C and a notoriously dirty, abrasive track surface. Mercedes managed to dispel early weekend doubts through Antonelli’s pace, while Red Bull solidified its front-running status ahead of the afternoon qualifying sessions.
