Max Verstappen leads opening practice at Bahrain GP in Malaysia
10 sources • 3 min read • Latest: Oct 2, 2026, 6:30 AM
Last updated Oct 2, 2026
Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the first practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on October 2, posting a time of 1m37.520s. This performance put him 0.383 seconds ahead of George Russell, who finished second, while Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar claimed third with a time of 1m38.303s. The session took place at the Sepang International Circuit and was uninterrupted, reflecting the competitive nature of the 2026 Red Bull Formula 1 car. Further sessions will follow as teams prepare for the race weekend.
- •Verstappen tops FP1 with a time of 1m37.520s.
- •George Russell finishes second, 0.383 seconds behind.
- •Isack Hadjar secures third place with 1m38.303s.
- •The session was held at Sepang International Circuit.
- •Next practices will determine grid positions for the race.
- 6:38 AMESPN F1 — Verstappen sets pace in FP1 at Bahrain GP
- 6:03 AMYahoo Sports — Verstappen sets early practice pace for rearranged Bahrain Grand Prix
- 5:46 AMYahoo Sports — Verstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice
- 5:42 AMRacer — Verstappen leads Russell in Bahrain FP1 in Malaysia
- 5:41 AMBBC Sport — Verstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice
- 5:40 AMAutosport — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Verstappen pips Russell to top FP1
- 5:38 AMMotorsport.com — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen tops FP1
- 5:38 AMYahoo Sports — F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen tops FP1
"Max Verstappen topped opening practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia aboard a highly competitive 2026 Red Bull Formula 1 car in an uninterrupted session at Sepang. The four-time world champion posted a 1m37.520s to go 0.383s quicker than second-placed George Russell of Mercedes, with Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar completing the top three on a 1m38.303s. It came on F1’s ...Keep reading
"Max Verstappen topped opening practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia aboard a highly competitive 2026 Red Bull Formula 1 car in an uninterrupted session at Sepang. The four-time world champion posted a 1m37.520s to go 0.383s quicker than second-placed George Russell of Mercedes, with Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar completing the top three on a 1m38.303s. It came on F1’s ...Keep reading
"Max Verstappen set the early practice pace on Formula One's return to Malaysia for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix. The sport is back at the Sepang International Circuit, 65 kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur, after nine years away as the venue plays host to the rearranged Bahrain GP - cancelled earlier this season because of the Middle East conflict.
Sources
External links- ESPN F1Oct 2, 2026, 6:38 AMVerstappen sets pace in FP1 at Bahrain GP
Red Bull's Max Verstappen set the pace in the first practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
- Yahoo SportsOct 2, 2026, 6:03 AMVerstappen sets early practice pace for rearranged Bahrain Grand Prix
Max Verstappen set the early practice pace on Formula One's return to Malaysia for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix. The sport is back at the Sepang International Circuit, 65 kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur, after nine years away as the venue plays host to the rearranged Bahrain GP - cancelled earlier this season because of the Middle East conflict.
- Yahoo SportsOct 2, 2026, 5:46 AMVerstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice
Red Bull's Max Verstappen tops the timesheets as Formula 1 returned to the Sepang track for the first time in nine years for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
- RacerOct 2, 2026, 5:42 AMVerstappen leads Russell in Bahrain FP1 in Malaysia
Max Verstappen has topped the opening practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, F1's first session at Sepang International Circuit in 19 years, ahead of George Russell.
- BBC SportOct 2, 2026, 5:41 AMVerstappen tops Bahrain GP in Malaysia first practice
Red Bull's Max Verstappen tops the timesheets as Formula 1 returned to the Sepang track for the first time in nine years for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
- AutosportOct 2, 2026, 5:40 AMF1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Verstappen pips Russell to top FP1
Max Verstappen topped opening practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia aboard a highly competitive 2026 Red Bull Formula 1 car in an uninterrupted session at Sepang. The four-time world champion posted a 1m37.520s to go 0.383s quicker than second-placed George Russell of Mercedes, with Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar completing the top three on a 1m38.303s. It came on F1’s ...Keep reading
- Motorsport.comOct 2, 2026, 5:38 AMF1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen tops FP1
Max Verstappen topped opening practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia aboard a highly competitive 2026 Red Bull Formula 1 car in an uninterrupted session at Sepang. The four-time world champion posted a 1m37.520s to go 0.383s quicker than second-placed George Russell of Mercedes, with Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar completing the top three on a 1m38.303s. It came on F1’s ...Keep reading
- Yahoo SportsOct 2, 2026, 5:38 AMF1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Max Verstappen tops FP1
The championship-leading Mercedes outfit may have brought many car upgrades to Sepang, but it was Red Bull who went quickest in opening practice
- Yahoo SportsOct 2, 2026, 5:30 AMF1 Full Results | Verstappen tops Russell in Sepang return
Max Verstappen went fastest with a 1:37. 520 in an intriguing first practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
- Yahoo SportsOct 2, 2026, 5:30 AMVerstappen sets the pace in Bahrain GP FP1 in Sepang's long-awaited F1 return
Max Verstappen has set the pace during the first free practice session at the Sepang International Circuit, hosting the Bahrain GP in the track's return to F1 for the first time since 2017. Verstappen topped the timing charts with a 1:37.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
F1•Oct 2, 2026, 6:27 AMFranco Colapinto: "No one" talks about how I receive social media abuse following Baku clash- F1•Oct 2, 2026, 6:14 AMRed Bull weigh up 'difficult decisions' on Verstappen-Hadjar team orders after Baku GP
F1•Oct 2, 2026, 6:13 AMHonda Deployed ADUO Update Secretly as Aston Martin Addresses Ocon Rumour
F1•Oct 2, 2026, 6:10 AMMercedes finally brings big upgrade and F1 fans are asking if it's game over
F1•Oct 2, 2026, 5:43 AMFernando Alonso reveals touching first karting experience with son Leonard at just two months old
F1•Oct 2, 2026, 5:23 AMHadjar's Bahrain GP grid penalty official with confirmed power unit changes
