Charles Leclerc emerged as the fastest driver in the second free practice session (FP2) for the 2026 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix held at the Sepang Circuit, Malaysia. The Ferrari driver set the best time, beating Isack Hadjar of Red Bull and Lando Norris of McLaren.
FP2 served as redemption for Leclerc after he had to concede to Max Verstappen's pace in FP1. This time, Leclerc found his rhythm and maximized the potential of his SF-26 to outpace his rivals. Hadjar, in second place, provided a surprise by closely trailing Leclerc, while Norris completed the top three.
Verstappen, who dominated FP1, had to settle for fourth behind Leclerc, Hadjar, and Norris. The reigning world champion seemed to struggle with the car's balance under different track conditions. His teammate, Hadjar, was actually faster, indicating that internal competition at Red Bull is intensifying.
Lewis Hamilton finished the session in fifth, followed by Oscar Piastri of McLaren in sixth. The two Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, were seventh and eighth respectively. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls completed the top ten in ninth.
On the other hand, several drivers faced difficulties. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin could only manage 15th, while Carlos Sainz of Williams was 17th. Valtteri Bottas, driving for Cadillac, had to settle for 19th, and Sergio Perez was 21st. Franco Colapinto of Alpine rounded out the classification in 22nd.
The FP2 results provide an intriguing preview ahead of qualifying and the race. Competition at the front is tightening with Hadjar emerging as a new challenger. However, with FP3 still to come, all teams will continue to evaluate and refine their car setups.
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia marks a new chapter in the F1 calendar, with the Sepang Circuit returning as host after several years of absence. The enthusiasm of Malaysian fans is palpable, welcoming the return of this prestigious racing event.
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