Photo via BBC Sport

Verstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice

Formula 1 is racing at the Sepang venue for the first time in nearly a decade, filling in as a substitute location for the Bahrain Grand Prix due to scheduling shifts stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts. Max Verstappen set the pace in the opening practice session, outpacing recent Azerbaijan winner George Russell by more than three-tenths of a second in a revised Mercedes car, with Isack Hadjar taking third for Red Bull.

Several drivers, including Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad, face grid demotions for exceeding power unit allocations, while Lindblad and Liam Lawson represented Racing Bulls on track.

Further down the order, championship leader Kimi Antonelli placed ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with Pierre Gasly taking seventh for Alpine. Track conditions created high tire wear, particularly for Mercedes during long runs, though world champions Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris kept a low profile further back in eleventh and twelfth.

Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa helped secure the Malaysian venue for the event, where traditional champagne celebrations are being replaced by rosewater on the podium.

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