Charles Leclerc wasted no time making a statement in Friday practice for the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang. The Ferrari driver topped the timesheets, edging his teammate by three tenths, and showed a solid long run. It's a clear signal that Leclerc is ready to fight at the front this weekend.
For Leclerc, Friday at Sepang felt special. He admitted he had to relearn the track after last racing here in 2017, when he only took part in FP1 with Sauber. Now, with experience and a competitive car, he exudes confidence. "We normally have a good race car," he said, hinting that Ferrari isn't afraid of a race predicted to be dominated by tyre degradation.
However, both Leclerc and team boss Fred Vasseur are aware of the big challenge: anticipating track grip changes. "It's a challenge for us - but for everybody," Vasseur said. The track conditions, which are not fully rubbered in, could be a deciding factor in qualifying and the race.
Mercedes Struggles on Day One
While Leclerc shone, Mercedes had a tough day. From dominating in Baku, Mercedes found themselves seventh and eighth in Sepang practice. Despite bringing a significant upgrade package worth at least 0.3 seconds per lap, the Brackley-based team couldn't match the frontrunners.
Deputy team principal Bradley Lord explained that technically everything is working as expected. "The drivers can feel the difference in high-speed corners," he said. But he acknowledged that Sepang's medium- and high-speed corners make the car perform more like it did in Hungary than in Baku. "We just have fine-tuning to do, especially on single lap," Lord added.
George Russell, the winner in Baku, felt the car wasn't in the right setup window. "At the moment Verstappen looks quickest in single-lap and McLaren quickest in long runs," he said. "We have to work hard overnight to improve tyre degradation." However, Antonelli's long run was better, giving hope that Mercedes isn't as bad as it seems.
Aston Martin and Others
Meanwhile, Aston Martin showed signs of life. Sepang's medium and high-speed corners seem to suit their car. Despite being 15th and 18th, there's optimism they can improve in qualifying.
Friday practice in Malaysia gave an intriguing early picture: Leclerc and Ferrari are ready to challenge, while Mercedes must turn things around. With more practice and qualifying to come, anything is possible.
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