Brief
Verstappen and Leclerc top dry practice sessions as Malaysia awaits rain
Both Friday practice sessions at the makeshift Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia stayed dry, leaving teams uncertain about wet‑weather performance.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Formula 1’s stand‑in Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia saw dry conditions for both Friday practice sessions, despite forecasts of heavy rain, according to news18.com.
In the first session, Max Verstappen topped the timesheets by 0.383 seconds ahead of George Russell, with Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar third. The second session was led by Charles Leclerc, who was .099 seconds quicker than Hadjar, while Lando Norris claimed third for McLaren. Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, placed fifth in the first practice and eighth in the second.
The event, described as the "unusually named Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia," marks the first visit to Sepang since 2017, a change prompted by the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia after a regional conflict. The circuit’s abrasive asphalt and history of sudden downpours could present a wet‑weather challenge once rain arrives.
Antonelli, who entered the weekend with a 66‑point lead over Mercedes teammate Russell, called the previous weekend "the worst weekend of the season" and said he needed a clean result to move past a disruptive period. Russell, who has struggled to adapt to the 2026 cars, praised a revised approach during the mid‑season break, likening it to a golfer adjusting a swing.
While the practice sessions remained dry, the race organizers and teams are still awaiting rain, which could become the first real wet race under the new 2026 regulations.
Key facts
- Max Verstappen was fastest in first practice by 0.383 seconds (news18.com)
- Charles Leclerc led second practice, .099 seconds ahead of Isack Hadjar (news18.com)
- Kimi Antonsson led the championship with a 66‑point advantage over George Russell (news18.com)
- The Bahrain Grand Prix is being held at Sepang, Malaysia, on ten‑week notice (news18.com)
- Both practice sessions stayed dry despite forecasts of heavy rain (news18.com)
Sources
- [1] news18.com — originally reported as “F1''s wait for rain goes on as practice in unfamiliar Malaysia stays dry”
