What We Learned From Friday Practice at the 2026 Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Charles Leclerc set the pace on soft tyres as Lewis Hamilton was summoned to stewards after Gabriel Bortoleto was impeded.
- Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped Friday's second practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, setting a time of 1:37.528 seconds.
- The circuit's abrasive surface and high humidity caused significant tyre degradation throughout the session. Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad noted the driving style required is "very similar" to Bahrain, explaining the venue's selection as a proxy.
- Seven-Time champion Lewis Hamilton received a warning from stewards after impeding Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto at turn nine. Hamilton reported that "he can't see through" his right mirror during the incident.
- Ferrari received a £10,000 fine for the incident, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished fourth after prioritising long-run data on the medium tyre over soft-tyre qualifying pace.
- Despite rain threats upgraded to a 90% chance, clouds broke and left the venue dry. Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur emphasised that anticipating track evolution remains crucial for Sunday's race.
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11 Articles
Charles Leclerc pointed out the deterioration of the tires as the main factor to take into account in Sepang and admitted not to consider Ferrari the most competitive team this weekend. The Monegasque rider finished the first free training in fourth position and ascended to the leader of the classification in the second session. However, Leclerc believes [...] The content Leclerc: ☆I don't think we are the most competitive.
Leclerc fastest in second practice in Sepang
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped Friday’s second Formula One practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli struggled to find his rhythm at a dusty Sepang circuit. Leclerc lapped the 5.543-km circuit with a time of one minute, 37.528 seconds, less than a tenth of a second faster than Red […]
Formula 1: Leclerc Fastest In Bahrain Grand Prix Practice
Charles Leclerc placed Ferrari at the top of the timesheets Friday during practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is being held at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit. Leclerc finished 0.099 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. McLaren’s Lando Norris was third, 0.137 seconds adrift of the leader. Determining the true competitive order was difficult because teams used different approaches. Neither Hadjar nor Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen complet…
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