The Aporia · Verstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice

Verstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice

Read the original at BBC News ↗

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Benson, A. (2026, October 2). Verstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/ckm2q2346zz9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Max Verstappen led practice for an unusual Formula 1 event held at Malaysia's Sepang circuit due to cancellations of the original Bahrain Grand Prix. Verstappen was followed closely by George Russell, with Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar third. Several drivers noted significant tyre wear on the abrasive track surface. Mercedes introduced new upgrades but faced unexpected high degradation from their tyres compared to others.

Written by AI on 2026-10-02, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix was held at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia this weekend, marking its return to the country after a nine-year absence. Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, secured pole position with a time of 1:35.130 seconds, his first of the season. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton qualified second, despite Mercedes having brought an upgrade package to Malaysia; George Russell started seventh, leaving team boss Toto Wolff puzzled by their performance.

The track at Sepang is described as resembling "sandpaper" due to its rough surface and high temperatures, causing significant tyre degradation. Red Bull introduced a major aerodynamic update following the Azerbaijan race, which proved effective on this demanding circuit. With Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar facing a five-place grid penalty, championship leader Kimi Antonelli is set to start third alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, positioning him well for Sunday's race.

Verstappen's performance underscores his dominance and potential for another strong season, while Mercedes faces questions about their competitiveness after the upgrades failed to deliver expected results.

Written for “F1 In Malaysia” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.

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0 of 13 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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takes no side on a contested political question

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66/100

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BBC News · 5059 article(s) · 7 correction(s) detected

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Who wrote this

Andrew Benson

38 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Russell thanked his team for "producing the best car and power-unit this season" and said it had been "inspiring to see everyone coming together over four tough years to bring Mercedes back to the top". He had gone into the race knowing it was highly likely Antonelli would clinch the title, but afterwards emotions overwhelmed him and he was close to tears while being weighed.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Russell says F1 title loss 'tough to deal with'

🔮 To Antonelli, firstly, who said: "I will definitely frame the picture and put it in my house because it's just an incredible moment.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · How Antonelli 'blew everyone away' to make Formula 1 history

🔮 When informed Hamilton was unhappy, Leclerc said: "I will speak with Lewis.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · 'We've got big problems' - Hamilton says Ferrari need 'serious talks'

🔮 This is an updated version of an article first published in August 2026 Kimi Antonelli was 10 when his father Marco first realised the boy sitting on his lap, operating the steering and gears, might have an exceptional talent as a racing driver. The pair were at the Adria circuit in north-east Italy, Marco with his Lamborghini sports car team, Kimi competing in a karting race.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Antonelli - the boy 'born in a garage' who became world champion

🔮 The key stories of the race were: Antonelli delivering the title with several races to go in a season he has taken by storm Tension at Ferrari after Leclerc's successful attempts to grab the lead on the first lap led to controversy and unhappiness at the team Verstappen benefitting from the internal battle to take his third win in four races. Antonelli keeps calm during late chaos Antonelli went into the race knowing that effectively he only had to stay out of trouble to ensure he secured the title. The only way he could not do so was if Russell or Hamilton won the race.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Antonelli becomes world champion as Verstappen wins in Mexico

🔮 It still puts the 20-year-old Italian in a strong position to seal the maiden title that will make him the youngest champion in history.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · On 'tense' Antonelli's big weekend, this was Hamilton's day

🔮 Antonelli qualified fifth behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, but will start fourth because of a one-place penalty for the Dutchman.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · Hamilton takes first pole for Ferrari at Mexico City Grand Prix

🔮 Leclerc was 0.659 seconds quicker than Antonelli, for whom a ninth-place finish will secure the championship regardless of any other results.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Leclerc fastest in Mexico City Grand Prix first practice

🔮 A Mercedes spokesperson said: "We expect him to be back tomorrow." Practice for the race starts on Friday at 18:30 GMT. Antonelli will seal the championship, and become the youngest winner in Formula 1 history, as long as he does not lose more than two points to team-mate George Russell and one point to Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in the grand prix on Sunday. The only way he could be stopped from tying up the title is if one of Russell and Hamilton wins.

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · Antonelli to miss Mexico media day with illness

🔮 Antonelli will be crowned champion in Mexico City next weekend as long he does not lose more than 23 points to Russell and 24 to Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Antonelli wins in US but has to wait to secure title

Also by Andrew Benson

Russell says F1 title loss 'tough to deal with'

2026-11-02 · BBC News

How Antonelli 'blew everyone away' to make Formula 1 history

2026-11-02 · BBC News

'We've got big problems' - Hamilton says Ferrari need 'serious talks'

2026-11-01 · BBC News

Antonelli becomes world champion as Verstappen wins in Mexico

2026-11-01 · BBC News

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 38 articles by Andrew Benson →

Topics

Bahrain Formula 1 Malaysia Mercedes Red Bull's

Subjects

Mercedes ORG · 4× Bahrain GPE · 2× Malaysia GPE · 2× Verstappen PERSON · 2× Azerbaijan GPE · 1× Formula 1 ORG · 1× George Russell PERSON · 1× Max Verstappen PERSON · 1× Red Bull's ORG · 1× Sepang GPE · 1×

Narrative

F1 has returned to this track, regarded as one of the best layouts among the new generation of circuits that came on stream at the end of the last century and into this one, because of the circumstances around this year's calendar.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-02

🔮 Alpine's Pierre Gasly was seventh fastest, ahead of the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, who will start from the back of the grid as a result of a grid penalty for using too many engine parts.

2026-10-02 · BBC News

Verstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice · assertive framing

Claims (13 extracted, 0 hedged)

- Published Red Bull's Max Verstappen topped the timesheets as Formula 1 returned to the Sepang track for the first time in nine years for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. asserted

Formula → publish → Malaysia

Verstappen was 0.383 seconds quicker than George Russell, winner last week in Azerbaijan, in an upgraded Mercedes. asserted

Verstappen → upgrade → Mercedes

The second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar was third fastest, 0.783secs off the pace, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, split from his team-mate Lewis Hamilton by championship leader Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes. asserted

Bull → split → Mercedes

Alpine's Pierre Gasly was seventh fastest, ahead of the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, who will start from the back of the grid as a result of a grid penalty for using too many engine parts. asserted

who → start → parts

Hadjar also has a grid penalty - expected to be five places - for the same reason. asserted

Hadjar → have → reason

that → return → calendar

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were cancelled at the beginning of the year as a result of the war in the Middle East. asserted

races → cancel → East

But Bahrain were keen to hold their race and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa negotiated to hold the race in Malaysia. asserted

Khalifa → hold → Malaysia

A bunch of Bahraini-related activities are being held at the track, while the trophy presented will be the Bahrain Grand Prix trophy and rosewater rather than champagne will be sprayed on the podium. asserted

rosewater → relate → podium

The first session was marked by drivers commenting on the high level of tyre degradation caused by the abrasive surface, and Russell in particular noticed this was high on the Mercedes. asserted

this → mark → Mercedes

Questioning it on his race-simulation run late in the session, he was told his tyre wear did appear to be "an outlier" compared to that of Verstappen. asserted

wear → question → Verstappen

Mercedes have introduced their first major upgrade since the Canadian Grand Prix, with a new floor and rear bodywork. asserted

Mercedes → introduce → bodywork

They expected McLaren to be the team to beat at this track, but the world champions had a low-key first session, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris down in 11th and 12th places. asserted

champions → expect → places