Malaysia’s Selangor state welcomes Formula 1 back to Sepang as Verstappen leads Mercedes and Ferrari during an unusual Bahrain replacement weekend
Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the opening practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix, marking Formula 1’s return to the Sepang International Circuit after a nine-year absence. The Red Bull driver immediately established himself as the benchmark.
Verstappen finished 0.383 seconds ahead of George Russell, who arrived in Malaysia after securing victory at last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Russell was driving an upgraded Mercedes as the team introduced significant developments aimed at improving its performance.
Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar produced the third-fastest time, although he remained 0.783 seconds behind Verstappen. The French driver’s performance added to Red Bull’s strong opening showing, despite the grid penalty he is expected to receive later this weekend.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the next position, followed by his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli separated the two Ferrari drivers, placing his Mercedes between Leclerc and Hamilton during an opening session that offered an early indication of the competitive order.
Pierre Gasly was seventh fastest for Alpine, followed by Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson. Arvid Lindblad completed the top ten, although his weekend has already been complicated by a grid penalty resulting from the use of too many engine components.
Lindblad is therefore expected to start from the back of the grid regardless of his qualifying position. Hadjar faces a similar situation, with the Red Bull driver expected to receive a five-place grid penalty for exceeding the permitted number of engine components.
The return to Sepang has added an unusual dimension to the Formula 1 calendar. The circuit has not hosted a Grand Prix since 2017, but changes to this year’s schedule have created circumstances that brought the championship back to Malaysia.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled earlier in the year following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Bahrain nevertheless remained determined to stage its event, leading to an arrangement that moved the race weekend to Malaysia.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa negotiated the arrangement that allowed the event to be held at Sepang. The weekend therefore retains a strong Bahraini identity despite being staged at the Malaysian circuit.
Several Bahrain-related activities are taking place throughout the weekend, while the podium celebrations will also reflect the original event. The trophy being presented will be the Bahrain Grand Prix trophy, while rosewater will replace champagne during the traditional podium celebrations.
For the drivers, however, attention quickly returned to the demanding characteristics of Sepang. The opening session highlighted the circuit’s abrasive surface, with several competitors reporting significant tyre degradation during their initial runs.
Russell was particularly concerned by the level of tyre wear experienced by his Mercedes. During a late race-simulation run, the British driver questioned the degradation levels and received confirmation from his team that his tyre wear appeared to be an outlier.
The comparison with Verstappen was especially notable because Red Bull appeared to be managing the demanding conditions more effectively. Tyre performance could become a decisive factor as teams gather more information about the circuit during the remainder of the weekend.
Mercedes arrived in Malaysia with its first major upgrade package since the Canadian Grand Prix. The changes include a new floor and revised rear bodywork, with the team hoping the developments can improve performance and reduce the gap to its principal rivals.
Russell’s second-place finish provided an encouraging opening indication for Mercedes, particularly after his Azerbaijan victory. However, the tyre degradation concerns demonstrated that the team still has questions to answer before the longer runs and competitive sessions later in the weekend.
The return to Sepang is also significant because the circuit is widely regarded as one of the strongest layouts from the generation of tracks introduced during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its long straights, fast corners and demanding conditions provide a distinctive challenge.
McLaren had been expected by Mercedes to set the pace in Malaysia, but the reigning world champions endured a relatively quiet opening session. Oscar Piastri finished 11th, while championship contender Lando Norris ended the session 12th fastest.
Those positions do not necessarily provide a definitive picture of McLaren’s potential. Teams often use the first practice session to gather data, evaluate upgrades, understand tyre behaviour and complete different fuel-load programmes rather than chase outright lap times.
With the Sepang circuit returning to the calendar under unusual circumstances, the weekend offers teams an opportunity to adapt quickly to conditions not encountered in recent seasons. The abrasive track surface and tropical environment are expected to place further demands on cars and tyres.
Verstappen’s early advantage gives Red Bull an encouraging starting point, but the competitive picture remains open. Russell’s upgraded Mercedes, Ferrari’s closely matched drivers and McLaren’s potential pace could all alter the order as practice continues.
The unusual circumstances surrounding the event have also ensured that this Malaysian weekend will be remembered beyond the sporting results. Bahrain’s cancelled race has effectively been transplanted to one of Formula 1’s most recognisable former venues.
For Verstappen, however, the immediate objective is straightforward: convert his strong opening performance into sustained pace across the weekend. With penalties affecting both Hadjar and Lindblad and tyre degradation already emerging as a concern, qualifying and race strategy could become increasingly important.
Sepang’s return has therefore delivered an eventful opening session, combining a familiar circuit with an unfamiliar championship context. Verstappen leads the early timing sheets, but Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren remain within striking distance as Formula 1 prepares for its next competitive sessions.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members