Max Verstappen set the pace in the opening practice session for the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Malaysia, piloting a highly competitive Red Bull Racing car to a 1m37.520s. The four-time world champion edged out Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.383s, with Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar completing the top three on a 1m38.303s.
This marked F1’s first visit to Sepang in nine years, the last race there in 2017 also won by Verstappen. The Bahrain Grand Prix is being held in Malaysia due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, forcing teams to adapt quickly to a circuit with little recent data.
In the early stages, most teams opted for the medium tyre, and Russell went quickest among them with a 1m38.932s. However, both Red Bulls chose the soft compound from the outset, allowing Verstappen to set an early benchmark of 1m38.883s, just 0.049s ahead of Russell. Hadjar struggled initially, sitting seven tenths off his teammate after an understeer moment at the final hairpin.
The challenging conditions added another layer, with temperatures hitting 32C. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto called it “the craziest I’ve ever been in my life with temperatures,” adding it was even hotter than Bahrain in FP1. Despite the heat, drivers managed to complete the session without major incidents.
With 30 minutes remaining, Hadjar briefly lowered the benchmark to 1m38.303s, prompting more teams to switch to softs. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton closed in, but Russell reclaimed the top spot with a 1m37.903s. The upgraded W17 looked fast, but the RB22 was equally impressive.
Verstappen then unleashed a 1m37.520s with 25 minutes left, a time that remained unbeaten. Russell and Hadjar completed the top three, while Leclerc finished fourth (+0.847s) and championship leader Kimi Antonelli took fifth. The session served as a strong signal that Red Bull, fresh from its first double podium of 2026 last weekend, is ready to challenge at the front.
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