Max Verstappen set the pace in the opening practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, topping the timesheets as Formula 1 returned to Malaysia for the first time in eight years.
With the Sepang International Circuit stepping in as the temporary venue for the postponed Bahrain event, Verstappen immediately showed his familiarity with the track. The Red Bull driver, who is the most recent winner at Sepang, recorded a fastest lap of 1:37.520.
Verstappen finished 0.383 seconds ahead of George Russell, who placed second for Mercedes. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar completed the top three with a time of 1:38.303, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc followed closely in fourth.
Kimi Antonelli was fifth for Mercedes, ahead of Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton in sixth. Pierre Gasly secured seventh for Alpine, with Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad taking eighth and ninth respectively.
Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top ten for Audi.
McLaren endured a quieter opening session, with Oscar Piastri finishing 11th and championship contender Lando Norris just behind him in 12th. Gabriel Bortoleto was 13th, followed by Fernando Alonso in 14th.
Esteban Ocon led the Haas pair in 15th, with Oliver Bearman 16th. Williams drivers Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz finished 17th and 20th respectively, while Lance Stroll was 18th and Franco Colapinto took 19th.
The bottom two positions were occupied by Cadillac, with Valtteri Bottas finishing 21st and Sergio Perez 22nd.
The return to Sepang has added another challenge to an already unusual Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, with soaring temperatures expected to put additional pressure on both drivers and machinery.
While Verstappen’s early pace gives Red Bull an encouraging start, the session is only the first indication of the competitive order. Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren will have further opportunities to close the gap as the weekend progresses.
With qualifying and the race still ahead, attention will now turn to whether Verstappen can maintain his advantage when the teams begin pushing their cars harder around the demanding Malaysian circuit.
