Verstappen leads FP1 at Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Max Verstappen led the opening practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, setting the fastest time for Red Bull at the Sepang International Circuit. Verstappen recorded a lap of 1m 37.520s to finish nearly four-tenths clear of Mercedes driver George Russell, with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar finishing third. The session marked Formula 1's return to the circuit for the first time since 2017.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth, with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli fifth and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in sixth. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris ended the session 11th and 12th while testing different rear wings. Meanwhile, Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad took a fifth power unit, which is expected to result in a back-of-the-grid start on Sunday.