Team Insights: Friday Practice at 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang

Red Bull Max Verstappen kicked off the weekend at Sepang by leading the first practice session for Red Bull, with Isack Hadjar also showing promise in third place. Overheating was a concern, but this seemed to be a universal issue across the paddock. In the second session, Hadjar improved to second, while Verstappen ended up fourth, notably setting his time on medium tires. Unfortunately for Hadjar, a five-place grid penalty awaits him due to a new internal combustion engine installation.

Max Verstappen - FP1: 1:37.520, P1; FP2: 1:37.785, P4 "A decent start today. The track was tricky with heat and degradation, but we managed two positive sessions. We need to understand the tires better for tomorrow."

Isack Hadjar - FP1: 1:38.303, P3; FP2: 1:37.627, P2 "A strong start in terms of competitiveness. The track is challenging, but I'm happy with our car's performance. Qualifying will be short and sharp, but I’m optimistic."

Pierre Wache, Technical Director, noted the evolving grip and focused on gaining data for tire behavior, especially under dry conditions.

Ferrari Ferrari had both cars in the top six initially, with Charles Leclerc topping the second session after a strong lap on softs. Lewis Hamilton, while competitive, received a warning for blocking Gabriel Bortoleto.

Charles Leclerc - FP1: 1:38.367, P4; FP2: 1:37.528, P1 "A good day overall. The track will evolve, and degradation will be key. Small differences in corner approach can make a big impact."

Lewis Hamilton - FP1: 1:38.590, P6; FP2: 1:37.833, P5 "A challenging day with little grip. We explored setups, and there's still work to do for better balance."

Mercedes George Russell and Kimi Antonelli found themselves dealing with tire wear concerns. Russell was strong in FP1, but both struggled with the final corner in FP2.

Kimi Antonelli - FP1: 1:38.580, P5; FP2: 1:38.060, P8 "It's incredible to drive here, but we have more work to do. Red Bull looks fast, but we’ll aim to improve."

George Russell - FP1: 1:37.903, P2; FP2: 1:38.020, P7 "First time at Sepang, and it's great. Tire degradation is high, affecting the new updates. We’ll refine things overnight."

McLaren McLaren focused on testing rear wing configurations in FP1 before showing pace in FP2, with Lando Norris impressively close to the top times.

Lando Norris - FP1: 1:39.293, P12; FP2: 1:37.665, P3 "A fun track but challenging. We've made progress but need to solve more issues to be competitive."

Oscar Piastri - FP1: 1:39.276, P11; FP2: 1:37.899, P6 "A reasonable day with good progress. We need to understand grip and degradation better overnight."

Alpine Pierre Gasly led the midfield, while Franco Colapinto focused on race pace due to expected grid penalties. Gasly anticipates a competitive weekend.

Pierre Gasly - FP1: 1:38.715, P7; FP2: 1:38.588, P10 "Back in Malaysia, it's been a decent Friday. The track is low grip, and it’s tough on tires. We’re in a good place ahead of the weekend."

Franco Colapinto - FP1: 1:40.531, P19; FP2: 1:43.391, P22 "Focused on race pace due to penalties. It’s a fun track, even on high fuel, with tire degradation a key factor."

Racing Bulls Arvid Lindblad faces a back-of-the-grid start due to power unit changes, but both he and Liam Lawson were competitive in practice.

Arvid Lindblad - FP1: 1:39.197, P9; FP2: 1:38.678, P11 "The pressure is off, so I’m enjoying the track. Tyre degradation will be pivotal in strategy."

Liam Lawson - FP1: 1:39.106, P8; FP2: 1:38.496, P9 "A positive day on a fun but demanding track. Tyre management will be crucial for Qualifying."

Audi Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto had a mixed day, with Bortoleto experiencing a gearbox issue by the end of FP2.

Nico Hulkenberg - FP1: 1:39.211, P10; FP2: 1:39.109, P13 "Learning Sepang again with new challenges. We need to find more grip and balance overnight."

Gabriel Bortoleto - FP1: 1:39.548, P13; FP2: 1:39.051, P12 "A good start despite issues. We’ll aim to improve for tomorrow."

Haas Esteban Ocon led Haas's efforts, finding pace throughout the day, while Oliver Bearman struggled with confidence.

Esteban Ocon – FP1: 1:40.158, P15; FP2: 1:39.361, P14 "A positive day on a fantastic track. We’ve improved but still have work to do overnight."

Oliver Bearman - FP1: 1:40.311, P16; FP2: 1:39.706, P16 "A tough day, learning the track and struggling with confidence. We aim to do better tomorrow."

Aston Martin Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll had a challenging day with grip issues, but Alonso remains optimistic about the car’s potential.

Fernando Alonso - FP1: 1:39.683, P14; FP2: 1:39.478, P15 "We need more grip and setup optimization. Degradation will be critical."

Lance Stroll - FP1: 1:40.413, P18; FP2: 1:40.150, P18

Williams Williams continues to evaluate their upgrades, struggling with grip and performance.

Alex Albon - FP1: 1:40.321, P17; FP2: 1:40.221, P20 "A unique track that's physically demanding. We need to improve overnight."

Carlos Sainz - FP1: 1:40.605, P20; FP2: 1:39.930, P17 "A difficult day, struggling at high speeds and with degradation. We’ll keep working on solutions."

Pirelli Simone Berra highlighted the abrasive track conditions and tire degradation as key factors affecting the weekend.

"Track conditions impacted grip and lap times, with high thermal degradation. The absence of rain allowed race simulations, giving us substantial data on tire performance."

With the weather and track conditions posing unique challenges, teams have their work cut out as they head into Saturday's sessions.