Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen sets pace on F1's return to Sepang in first practice from George Russell

​Max Verstappen made an impressively fast start to Formula 1's return to the Sepang International Circuit to set the pace from George Russell in the first practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

With F1 cars back on the popular track on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur for the first time since 2017, Verstappen - the winner of that last race at Sepang - was quickly back in the groove in his Red Bull and set the pace on a 1:37.520 by three tenths of a second.

Russell, who pipped Verstappen to victory in Baku last week, was second quickest in a Mercedes car that features a major aerodynamic upgrade this weekend.

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The package represents Mercedes' first car update of significance since the Canadian Grand Prix at the end of May and includes a new floor, rear suspension and rear corner.

While it will inevitably take a little time for the Silver Arrows to fully assess the revised W17's performance and to get the most out of it, Kimi Antonelli will hope to close up to Russell after the title leader lapped 0.6s slower than his team-mate alone in the first session.

Antonelli was fifth but a full second off Verstappen's pace a week on from a Baku weekend when he was comprehensively outperformed by Russell, who cut the Italian's championship lead to 66 points.

Only Russell finished within half a second of Verstappen. Isack Hadjar, who has a five-place grid penalty to serve for engine changes in Sunday's race, was third fastest in the second Red Bull but 0.7s slower than his team-mate.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports F1: "It's early to get excited because it's only FP1 but Max and Isack did a good job in very difficult conditions - they got into a rhythm pretty quickly.

"Everyone is fighting with the car because of the extreme heat so it doesn't feel good for anyone. It's fair to say, relative to the others, we were not too far from the ballpark."

Ferrari were a long way off the pace in first practice with Charles Leclerc in fourth and Lewis Hamilton in sixth lapping over 0.8s slower than Verstappen.

McLaren were even further off the pace and finished outside the top 10 completely, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris 11th and 12th respectively. The Woking team ran a back-to-back comparison of their version of 'Macarena' rotating rear wing - which they call the H-wing - with Piastri running the design while Norris had the standard specification.

Amid typically hot and humid Malaysian weather, and on a noticeably dusty track, tyre degradation was quickly a factor on a circuit that features an older tarmac and numerous long, fast corners.

Indeed, the Mercedes pit wall told Russell during his long run on the soft tyres late in the session that they appeared to be the "outlier" compared to rivals in terms of higher wear.

But Red Bull's Mekies cautioned: "It's early days. We saw the high deg of the Mercedes but everyone is out of the [set-up] window now."

Pierre Gasly was the lead midfield runner in seventh for Alpine, while Racing Bulls were eighth and ninth with Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad - who will take a grid penalty for engine changes on Sunday - respectively.

Audi's Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10 ahead of second practice at 9am, live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event.

Sky Sports F1's live schedule Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Friday October 2
8.45am: Bahrain GP Practice Two (session starts at 9am)*
10.15am: The F1 Show*

Saturday October 3
5.15am: Bahrain GP Practice Three (session starts at 5.30am)*
8am: Bahrain GP Qualifying build-up*
9am: BAHRAIN GP QUALIFYING*

Sunday October 4
6.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Bahrain GP build-up*
8am: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX*
10am: Chequered Flag: Bahrain GP reaction*

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit - watch Sunday's race at 8am (build-up from 6.30am), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen sets pace on F1's return to Sepang in first practice from George Russell