Max Verstappen topped the timesheets in Free Practice 1 for the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, leading Mercedes driver George Russell and Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar in the opening session.
With Formula 1 returning to Sepang for the first time since 2017, Friday’s opening practice session offered a valuable opportunity for drivers to familiarise themselves with the challenging Malaysian circuit. Several drivers on the current grid had never previously experienced the track in an F1 car, making every lap crucial as teams began gathering data for the weekend.
Franco Colapinto led the field out when the session began at 12:30 local time. The Alpine driver was among a small group opting for soft tyres, while most of the grid started their running on the medium compound.
Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad also selected the soft tyres for his initial runs. However, his weekend could become more complicated after his team indicated that he would use a fifth power unit, potentially leaving him facing a back-of-the-grid start for Sunday’s race.
Verstappen, the most recent winner of the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017, moved to the top of the timesheets within the first 15 minutes. Russell occupied second place and appeared to enjoy the challenge of mastering Sepang’s demanding layout.
“This track is so cool,” Russell told his Mercedes team over the radio.
Kimi Antonelli followed his teammate on the timesheets as Mercedes arrived with performance upgrades for the event. The team also showcased a special livery celebrating its title partnership with PETRONAS. Meanwhile, Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto highlighted the demanding conditions, with high temperatures and humidity adding another challenge for the drivers.
Verstappen maintained his position at the front as the session approached its halfway point, although Lindblad briefly climbed to third, splitting the two Mercedes drivers.
The order began to change as more competitors switched to soft tyres. Hadjar briefly took the lead before Russell displaced him, setting up an increasingly competitive fight at the top of the leaderboard.
Verstappen subsequently responded with a quicker lap of 1:37.520, reclaiming first place and finishing almost four-tenths of a second ahead of Russell. Hadjar secured third, giving Red Bull two cars inside the top three.
Antonelli ended the session in fifth, sandwiched between Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth and Lewis Hamilton in sixth. Pierre Gasly delivered an impressive first sector to secure seventh for Alpine, followed by Liam Lawson and Lindblad.
Nico Hulkenberg completed the top 10 for Audi.
McLaren Experiments With Different Rear Wings
Further down the order, McLaren used the session to evaluate different aerodynamic configurations, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris running different rear-wing specifications.
The decision came as the team looked to recover from a difficult previous race in Azerbaijan. The contrasting configurations could help McLaren assess its aerodynamic options and identify the most suitable setup for Sepang’s combination of long straights and technical corners.
As the session entered its final quarter, several drivers, including Russell and Antonelli, returned to medium tyres for additional running. Antonelli appeared to push hard during his laps, with replays showing the championship leader running wide at one point.
The closing stages featured further mileage as teams continued gathering data, alongside a brief on-track battle between Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz.
Verstappen ultimately remained at the top when the chequered flag fell, confirming a strong start to Red Bull’s Malaysian Grand Prix weekend.
With Verstappen leading Russell by nearly four-tenths of a second, Red Bull made an early statement at a circuit that places significant demands on both aerodynamic efficiency and tyre management. However, the opening practice session remains only an initial indication of performance, with teams still working to optimise their setups.
The drivers and engineers will now analyse the collected data before returning to the track for Free Practice 2, scheduled to begin at 16:00 local time. With more representative track conditions expected later in the day, the second session should provide a clearer picture of the competitive order at Sepang.
Adhe is part of the 88 Eight Box Editorial Team, covering JDM culture, motorsport, automotive technology, and industry news. The team focuses on delivering original automotive stories, reviews, and insights for enthusiasts worldwide.
