Verstappen top in F1 return to Sepang for Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped the opening practice session ahead of Mercedes’ Isack Hadjar in Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool

The Sepang International Circuit returned to the calendar to host the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking its first return in nine years, and Verstappen was the fastest driver on track.

Although there was rain expected for the opening day in Malaysia, but it was a dry start at Sepang.

Red Bull’s four-time world champion topped the timing boards with a lap time of 1m 37.520s, 0.383s faster than the upgraded Mercedes of Russell, as Verstappen’s teammate, Isack Hadjar rounded out the top three 0.783s behind.

When the cars first hit the circuit, mediums were the preferred opening compound with only a handful of drivers, including the two Red Bull’s, opting for a soft-opening run.

As such, Verstappen was the early leading driver after the first bout of timed runs.

It was a primarily well-behaved session with all of the competitors remaining out of each others way, but grip levels were reported to be low across the abrasive surface.

However, as more and more drivers opted to change over to the soft-compound tyres, no one could dethrone the four-time world champion from the top of the timing boards.

Weather report: latest forecast ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

FP1 classification:

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing – 1m 37.520s
2. George Russell, Mercedes +0.383s
3. Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing +0.783s
4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +0.847s
5. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes +1.060s
6. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari +1.070s
7. Pierre Gasly, Alpine +1.195s
8. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls +1.586s
9. Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls +1.677s
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Audi +1.691s
11. Oscar Piastri, McLaren +1.756s.
12. Lando Norris, McLaren +1.773s
13. Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi +2.028s
14. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +2.163s
15. Esteban Ocon, Haas +2.638s
16. Oliver Bearman, Haas +2.791s
17. Alexander Albon, Williams +2.801s
18. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +2.893s
19. Franco Colapinto, Alpine +3.011s
20. Carlos Sainz, Williams +3.085s
21. Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac +3.280s
22. Sergio Perez, Cadillac +3.300s

Free Practice 2 gets underway at 4pm local time (9am BST).

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.