The Formula One season returned to Malaysia on Saturday as teams took to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for the first two practice sessions of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, marking the sport’s return to the venue after a nine-year absence. Despite widespread anticipation of rain, the sessions were held under dry and challenging conditions, with high temperatures presenting a significant test for drivers and machinery alike.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the winner of the last Malaysian Grand Prix held in 2017, topped the timing charts in the opening free practice session, recording a fastest lap of 1:37.520. Verstappen’s time put him ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell, who was 0.383 seconds slower, and Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar, who was third at 0.783 seconds off the pace. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies commented on the difficulty of the conditions, noting that the extreme heat made it challenging for all drivers to find a comfortable rhythm on track.

For many teams and drivers, the sessions were crucial for gathering data on the SIC’s surface and layout, as limited running has taken place at the circuit in recent years. Several teams utilized flow-vis paint and aero rakes to analyze aerodynamic performance during the session. Mercedes driver and championship leader Kimi Antonelli, whose car featured a special Petronas livery honoring a title sponsorship, finished fifth in the first session, approximately one second behind Verstappen. Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton posted fourth and sixth fastest laps, respectively.

The second practice session saw a shift at the top, with Leclerc setting the fastest time of 1:37.528, narrowly missing Verstappen’s benchmark from the first session. Hadjar improved to second place, 0.099 seconds behind Leclerc, while McLaren’s reigning world champion Lando Norris secured third, trailing by 0.137 seconds. Hamilton, a former SIC race winner in 2014, finished the session fifth, with Verstappen in fourth place.

Though a brief period of light drizzle occurred during the afternoon, it did not prompt any teams to switch to intermediate or wet weather tires, and dry conditions largely prevailed. A late incident briefly interrupted the session when Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto stopped on track with two minutes remaining, triggering a virtual safety car. Bortoleto exited his car safely, and the session concluded under yellow flag conditions.

Preparations continue today with a final practice session scheduled ahead of the evening qualifying rounds, where teams will aim to maximize their understanding of the circuit and position themselves favorably for the upcoming race.