Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia: Full Friday practice results

Ferrari and Charles Leclerc led Friday outright after topping FP2 at the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. 

The second session of F1's first visit to Sepang since 2017 ran under threat from a heavy rain shower, though FP2 ultimately ran in completely dry conditions. 

But the rain threat forced most into early soft tyre running, with Charles Leclerc coming out on top with a 1m37.528s ahead of Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, who was quick in FP1 also. 

Lando Norris and McLaren looked stronger in the afternoon session, with the reigning champion third ahead of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. 

Hamilton is once again under fire for a blocking incident with Gabriel Bortoleto, whose session came to an early end due to a suspected gearbox issue in the closing stages. 

Mercedes struggled in the more representative afternoon session, with George Russell only seventh ahead of championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

2026 F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia FP2 results

The opening session for the 2026 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was topped by Red Bull's Max Verstappen, as Sepang returns to the calendar for the first time since 2017. 

The ongoing war in Iran forced April's Bahrain Grand Prix to be cancelled from its original calendar slot, though organisers had hoped to be able to reschedule it for later in the year. 

But with continued uncertainty in the region, the Bahrain Grand Prix organisers have elected to organise the race 6000km away in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit. 

F1 last raced in Malaysia in 2017, with Max Verstappen winning on that day. Since then, he has become a four-time world champion, and kicked off this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix fastest in FP1. 

He posted a 1m37.520s in his Red Bull ahead of George Russell, with the Azerbaijan winner trailing Verstappen in his Mercedes with a 1m37.903s. 

Isack Hadjar, who will take a grid penalty for an engine change, was third in the sister Red Bull ahead of the leading Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli was fifth for Mercedes. 

LIVE: Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia practice

Lewis Hamilton was sixth at the end of FP1 in the second of the Ferraris, with Alpine's Pierre Gasly heading the Racing Bulls duo of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, as Nico Hulkenberg completed the top 10 for Audi. 

Both McLaren drivers were outside of the top 10 at the end of FP1. 

2026 F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia FP1 results