What We Learned From Friday Practice at the 2026 Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Charles Leclerc set the pace on soft tyres as Lewis Hamilton was summoned to stewards after Gabriel Bortoleto was impeded.
- Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped Friday's second practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, setting a time of 1:37.528 seconds.
- The circuit's abrasive surface and high humidity caused significant tyre degradation throughout the session. Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad noted the driving style required is "very similar" to Bahrain, explaining the venue's selection as a proxy.
- Seven-Time champion Lewis Hamilton received a warning from stewards after impeding Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto at turn nine. Hamilton reported that "he can't see through" his right mirror during the incident.
- Ferrari received a £10,000 fine for the incident, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished fourth after prioritising long-run data on the medium tyre over soft-tyre qualifying pace.
- Despite rain threats upgraded to a 90% chance, clouds broke and left the venue dry. Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur emphasised that anticipating track evolution remains crucial for Sunday's race.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Charles Leclerc scored the fastest time of the second free practice in the Sepang International Circuit, Bahrain's GP stage, with a lap of 1min37s528. The pilots faced hot conditions, with air temperatures reaching 38°C and runway temperatures rising to 54°C, values that must be maintained [...] The post Leclerc leads the TL2 on a day of high tyre degradation appeared first in JW News.
The Monegasque in front of the free. Verstappen manages the tires. Meanwhile, the theme of Italian taxes stirs the paddock
Charles Leclerc pointed out the deterioration of the tires as the main factor to take into account in Sepang and admitted not to consider Ferrari the most competitive team this weekend. The Monegasque rider finished the first free training in fourth position and ascended to the leader of the classification in the second session. However, Leclerc believes [...] The content Leclerc: ☆I don't think we are the most competitive.
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