Phoenix 24
Ferrari topped the times, but Red Bull’s hidden pace may be the more important signal.
Sepang
Charles Leclerc ended the opening day of Formula 1 action at Sepang with the fastest time in second practice, putting Ferrari at the top of a closely matched field during the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix. The Monegasque completed his best lap in 1 minute 37.528 seconds, finishing just 0.099 ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar.
Lando Norris placed third for McLaren, only 0.137 behind Leclerc, while Max Verstappen finished fourth despite not using the soft tire for his fastest effort. That detail made Red Bull’s performance particularly significant. Verstappen had already led the first practice session with a 1 minute 37.520 lap and remained within 0.257 seconds of Leclerc in FP2 while running the medium compound.
Lewis Hamilton placed fifth in the second Ferrari, followed by Oscar Piastri, George Russell and championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The narrow gaps among Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes suggest that the competitive order remains difficult to establish after only one day.
Sepang itself added another variable. Formula 1 has returned to the Malaysian circuit almost nine years after its previous appearance, forcing teams and drivers to rediscover a demanding track under the radically different 2026 technical regulations. Surface characteristics, high temperatures and significant tire degradation complicated setup work throughout the day.
Fernando Alonso finished 15th as the faster Aston Martin driver, 1.950 seconds behind Leclerc. Carlos Sainz ended the session 17th for Williams, while Alex Albon was 20th. Sergio Pérez placed 21st for Cadillac and Franco Colapinto finished last after concentrating more heavily on race preparation rather than a soft tire qualifying simulation.
Gabriel Bortoleto’s session ended prematurely after the Audi driver reported a gearbox problem and stopped near Turn 9, triggering a virtual safety car shortly before the checkered flag.
The weather remains another unresolved factor. Rain threatened throughout FP2 but largely stayed away, allowing teams to complete their dry running programs. Tropical conditions around Sepang, however, mean qualifying and race conditions could change rapidly.
Leclerc owns the headline after Friday, but the data suggest no clear hierarchy yet. Ferrari has one lap speed, McLaren is close and Red Bull appears particularly competitive across longer runs.
Sepang has returned to Formula 1 with precisely what the championship needed: uncertainty.
Information that anticipates futures.