Welcome to our Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying Live Blog!
Max Verstappen set the pace in FP1 as F1 returned to Sepang for the first time since 2017, with George Russell close behind. Ferrari then hit back in FP2, with Charles Leclerc topping the session ahead of Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris. Just 0.137s separated the top three, while Lewis Hamilton also showed strong pace in fifth.
Mercedes, however, had a more difficult afternoon. Russell and championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished seventh and eighth, with both drivers struggling with tyre degradation. The team was also continuing to work through its new upgrade package.
But Saturday has changed the picture. Antonelli topped FP3, three tenths ahead of Verstappen, with Hadjar third and Russell fourth. Ferrari followed with Leclerc and Hamilton in fifth and sixth, while McLaren’s Norris and Piastri were seventh and eighth.
There could still be more to come from McLaren. Norris set his best FP3 time on the medium tyre, while teams have taken different approaches to their tyre runs so far. That makes it difficult to know exactly where everyone stands until the soft tyres come out in qualifying.
Sepang is already proving a challenge, with its long straights, high-speed corners and abrasive surface putting plenty of pressure on the tyres. With many of the drivers racing here for the first time, finding the right balance around the lap could be crucial.
After three very different practice sessions, the fight for pole looks wide open. Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari or McLaren? We’re about to find out.
Join us for live coverage of 2026 Bahrain GP in Malaysia Qualifying.
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026 – Qualifying
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That’s a wrap on the action for Saturday
Thank you so much for joining us for our Bahraisian GP live blog. We’ll bring any post-session news on our socials, so don’t forget to head on over and give us a like!
We’ll be back tomorrow 8 am UK time for the 56-lap race on the iconic Sepang International Circuit
