Sepang: Charles Leclerc set the pace in the second free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, posting a fastest lap of 1 minute 37.528 seconds around the 5.543-kilometre Sepang International Circuit.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar finished second with a time of 1:37.627, less than a tenth of a second behind Leclerc, while McLaren’s Lando Norris completed the top three.

Max Verstappen finished fourth for Red Bull after setting the fastest time in the opening practice session with a 1:37.520. The four-time world champion remained among the frontrunners as teams adjusted to the demanding Sepang conditions.

Ferrari’s seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton took fifth place, followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished seventh and eighth respectively, while Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly completed the top 10.

Friday’s running took place in largely sunny conditions, although dust on the circuit made the surface slippery. Drivers also reported significant tyre degradation, with Leclerc highlighting tyre wear as a major factor likely to influence the race.

The session ended two minutes early after Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto stopped on track with a gearbox problem, prompting the deployment of the virtual safety car.

Hamilton was also handed a warning by the stewards after being found to have impeded Bortoleto at Turn 9. Ferrari was fined €10,000 after officials ruled that the team had failed to adequately warn Hamilton of the approaching Audi despite knowing that his right-hand mirror was damaged and his visibility was restricted.

The Sepang International Circuit is staging the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as a one-off replacement venue following the cancellation of the event in Bahrain amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The race also marks Formula One’s return to Sepang for the first time since 2017.