Verstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice
Sports2 sources2 countries🔦 Under-reported52m ago
Max Verstappen led the opening practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. The session marked Formula 1's return to the Malaysian venue for the first time in nine years, with Verstappen recording a fastest lap time of 1m37.520s in his 2026 Red Bull car.
Verstappen finished 0.383 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell during the uninterrupted practice session. The event featured the participation of Verstappen's teammate, Isack Hadjar, as the field adjusted to the circuit's reintroduction to the racing calendar.
In-depth summary · AI, neutral
How the coverage differs
Same story, different emphasis — here's what each outlet chose to lead with.
BBC Sport (GB)Focuses on the historic return to the Sepang track
Motorsport.com F1 (US)Emphasizes technical car specifications and session performance data
Newz