Verstappen Fastest in Sepang FP1 — Even Mercedes’ New Upgrade Couldn’t Catch Him
Max Verstappen topped the opening practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, beating George Russell’s heavily upgraded Mercedes by 0.383 seconds. The Dutchman’s 1m37.5s proved unbeatable throughout the session, even as track temperatures at Sepang soared to a brutal 57°C.
Mercedes’ new package — featuring angular sidepods, revised cooling louvres and extended bargeboards — was expected to give Russell a significant boost. Yet Verstappen still overshadowed him, while Mercedes flagged concerns over “higher tyre drop-off compared to the opposition” during the session.
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar took third, nearly eight tenths off the pace, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. Both McLarens struggled badly — Oscar Piastri finished 11th, with Lando Norris down in 12th.
Source: Formula1.com, The Race
