Sports
Verstappen tops first practice at relocated Bahrain GP in Malaysia
October 2, 2026 at 09:27 AM · Updated 14d ago
Coverage
3 reports · over 4 hours
ESESPN
Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Charles Leclerc tops second practice, Mercedes off the pace - ESPN
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BNBBC News
Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026: Max Verstappen tops first practice
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ESESPN
Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen leads first practice from George Russell - ESPN
(opens the publisher’s site)Formula 1's first session at Sepang in nine years saw Red Bull's Max Verstappen set the fastest lap at the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix.
- Verstappen was 0.383 seconds quicker than Mercedes' George Russell, winner of last week's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
- Isack Hadjar finished third in the second Red Bull, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
- The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia rounds were cancelled this year amid the Middle East war; Crown Prince Salman negotiated holding Bahrain's race in Malaysia.
- Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will start from the back of the grid, and Hadjar faces a five-place penalty, for exceeding engine-part limits.
- Charles Leclerc topped second practice at Sepang, finishing 0.099 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Isack Hadjar.