During the Free Practice 2 session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit, Charles Leclerc clocked the fastest time, with Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris completing the top three. Max Verstappen secured the fourth position.
Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, set a lap of 1:37.528. Red Bull’s Hadjar was 0.099 seconds behind, followed by McLaren’s Norris, who was 0.137 seconds off the pace.
Verstappen’s best time of 1:37.785 was achieved on the medium compound tyre. He opted against a soft tyre run during the session, prioritising a long run due to a forecast of potential rain.
The Dutchman described the initial track action as ‘decent’ but ‘tricky’, citing the high track temperature and significant tyre degradation at Sepang. He noted that making ‘progress is difficult’ under these conditions.
Red Bull Technical Director Pierre Wache indicated the team was ‘not very optimistic’ entering the weekend but expressed being ‘surprisingly happy’ with their performance.
Verstappen’s teammate, Isack Hadjar, will face a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race. This is due to the use of a seventh internal combustion engine (ICE), exceeding the permitted allocation for the season.
Hadjar and Verstappen recently celebrated birthdays, with the Red Bull garage marking the occasion.
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished seventh and eighth respectively in the session. Antonelli currently holds a 66-point lead over Russell in the drivers’ championship.
Russell expressed optimism regarding a new upgrade package brought by Mercedes to Sepang, hoping it will enhance his performance.
In other session news, Lewis Hamilton received a warning from the FIA stewards for impeding Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto during FP2.
Ferrari, Hamilton’s team, was fined €10,000 for failing to warn their driver about faster approaching cars. Hamilton’s right-hand mirror was damaged, contributing to the incident.
Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, finished last in FP2. He will incur a 15-place grid penalty for the race, comprising a five-place penalty from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and an additional 10 places for using a fifth ICE.
Colapinto and Lando Norris recently held discussions to resolve a dispute following an incident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Norris had publicly criticised Colapinto after a collision.
The Sepang International Circuit has returned to the Formula 1 calendar for the 2026 season, hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix. The track is known for its abrasive surface, which contributes to high tyre degradation.
The full Free Practice 2 results are as follows:
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:37.528
2. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) 1:37.627
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) 1:37.665
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:37.785
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 1:37.833
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 1:37.899
7. George Russell (Mercedes) 1:38.020
8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1:38.060
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) 1:38.496
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 1:38.588
11. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) 1:38.880
12. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) 1:39.051
13. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) 1:39.109
14. Esteban Ocon (Haas) 1:39.361
15. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 1:39.478
16. Oliver Bearman (Haas) 1:39.706
17. Carlos Sainz (Williams) 1:39.930
18. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 1:40.150
19. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) 1:40.186
20. Alexander Albon (Williams) 1:40.221
21. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) 1:40.938
22. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) 1:43.391
