Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in Free Practice 2 for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, posting a 1:37.528s at the Sepang International Circuit to finish ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
With forecasters predicting a 90 per cent chance of rain, all 22 drivers headed out immediately after the pit lane opened at 1600 local time. Most began on Medium tyres, though both McLaren drivers, Cadillac’s pair and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly started on Softs.
Max Verstappen set an early benchmark of 1:37.785s, leading Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.235s, with Leclerc initially third. As the threat of rain persisted, several drivers switched to Soft tyres around 15 minutes into the session. Russell and Kimi Antonelli both attempted flying laps on the softer compound, but neither improved, with Antonelli’s time deleted for exceeding track limits.
A notable incident occurred between Lewis Hamilton and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who took avoiding action after encountering the Ferrari moving slowly on the racing line. Stewards noted the incident, and Hamilton subsequently reported visibility issues with his right-hand mirror.
As the skies cleared, Leclerc moved to the top with his 1:37.528s. Hadjar split Leclerc and Norris with a 1:37.627s, leaving the top three covered by just 0.137 seconds. Verstappen, who remained on the Medium compound throughout, ended the session fourth, 0.257s off the pace.
Bortoleto’s session ended prematurely when his Audi stopped in the middle sector in the closing stages, triggering a Virtual Safety Car and yellow flags with two minutes remaining. That ended any prospect of late improvements, leaving Leclerc’s time unbeaten.
Hamilton finished fifth for Ferrari ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who recovered from 11th in FP1 to take sixth. Russell and Antonelli were seventh and eighth, with Liam Lawson and Gasly completing the top 10.
Earlier in the day, Verstappen had topped Free Practice 1 with a 1:37.520s, 0.383s clear of Russell, with Hadjar third. Mercedes arrived at Sepang with a significant upgrade package — their first major development since the Canadian Grand Prix — featuring revised sidepod bodywork, an updated floor and diffuser, and modifications to the rear suspension. Leclerc was fourth in FP1, ahead of Antonelli and Hamilton.
F1’s return to Sepang marks the circuit’s first appearance on the calendar since 2017, with the 5.5 km track hosting the renamed Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.