Verstappen leads Sepang practice as Mercedes introduces major upgrade

Max Verstappen set the fastest time in opening practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, leading George Russell by 0.383 seconds as Formula 1 returned to Sepang after nine years. BBC Sport reported that the Red Bull driver headed a session in which Mercedes introduced a major upgrade and drivers highlighted tyre wear on the abrasive track surface.

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Russell, who won in Azerbaijan the previous week, was followed by the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman finished 0.783 seconds behind Verstappen. Charles Leclerc placed fourth for Ferrari, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli fifth in the other Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton sixth, leaving Antonelli between the two Ferrari drivers on the timesheet.

Pierre Gasly took seventh for Alpine, ahead of Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad. Their practice positions did not tell the full story of the grid consequences facing some drivers: Lindblad is due to start from the back for exceeding his allocation of engine components. Hadjar also faces an engine-related penalty, which BBC Sport said was expected to amount to five grid places.

Mercedes brought a new floor and revised rear bodywork to Malaysia, its first major upgrade since the Canadian Grand Prix. Russell nevertheless raised concerns about degradation during a race-simulation run late in the session. In response, his team indicated that his tyre wear appeared unusually high compared with Verstappen's, according to the BBC report.

McLaren had a quieter opening session. Oscar Piastri finished 11th and Lando Norris 12th, despite Mercedes having expected the world champions to set the standard at Sepang. Those were first-practice positions, with the report offering no qualifying or race result from the returning circuit.

The event's unusual location follows the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races earlier in the year because of the war in the Middle East. BBC Sport reported that Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa negotiated for its race to be staged in Malaysia. Bahraini-related activities are taking place at the circuit, while the winner will receive the Bahrain Grand Prix trophy and the podium celebration will use rosewater instead of champagne.