Verstappen sets the pace at Bahrain GP FP1 in Sepang's long-awaited F1 return

Verstappen topped the timing charts with a 1:37.250, finishing ahead of George Russell, while his Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar completed the top three.

With all sorts of unknowns at Sepang, particularly regarding surface and tyre degradation at a circuit that has not seen F1 action in nine years, drivers were understandably quick to get out on track - and were greeted with hot and humid conditions, with track temperatures reaching 54°C. Ahead of the Bahrain GP weekend, the FIA declared a heat hazard for only the third time in 2026.

Immediately clear after the opening 10 minutes were the slippery conditions on a dusty Sepang circuit, with Russell sliding on the exit of Turn 14 just behind teammate Kimi Antonelli. The Briton, running on medium tyres to start the session, put his W17 into P2, two tenths behind Max Verstappen - the last Grand Prix winner in Sepang - on softs.

It did not take long, however, for Mercedes' pace to be on display, with Russell then closing his gap to Verstappen to just 0.049s. The Silver Arrows have brought seven upgrades to Sepang in their first major upgrade package since the Canadian GP in May. Antonelli, also on the mediums, was five tenths down in P3, with 15 minutes gone.

"This tyre degradation is insane," was the word from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, as fellow drivers Oscar Piastri and Isack Hadjar were each seen having a wobble in the final sector during the opening stages of FP1.

Halfway through the session, Russell was back on top with a 1:37.903 on the soft tyres - four tenths up on Ferrari's Charles Leclerc - but Verstappen responded in style to go a further three tenths up on the Briton with 25 minutes to go. Antonelli could only go P5 on his first soft tyre run, seven tenths down on Russell, who further improved, but still to just three tenths down on the Dutchman.

McLaren appeared to struggle throughout the session, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri down in P11 and P12 with 15 minutes to go, each a whopping 1.7s down on the lead. Meanwhile, Verstappen's teammate Hadjar impressed to go P3, ahead of Leclerc, Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton as the session came to a close.