Russell and Leclerc see Red Bull as Bahrain Grand Prix benchmark after Sepang practice

Red Bull emerged as a likely benchmark after Friday’s practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit on 2 October, according to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell. Leclerc led the second session, but Max Verstappen did not make a qualifying simulation on soft tyres, leaving the fastest-lap order an incomplete guide to the teams’ pace.

Verstappen had led opening practice for Red Bull in 1:37.520, 0.383 seconds ahead of Russell. His teammate Isack Hadjar was third. Later, Leclerc set the second session’s fastest lap of 1:37.528, beating Hadjar by 0.099 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was third, 0.137 seconds off Leclerc.

Why Leclerc and Russell pointed to Red Bull

Leclerc said the Red Bull was ‘standing out’ despite his place at the top of the second-session timesheet. He said Hadjar had made mistakes in the final part of his lap and Verstappen had not run on soft tyres. Leclerc also described the track as dirty and slippery, warning that its condition would change before Saturday.

Russell said Verstappen looked ‘very fast’ and singled out McLaren’s race pace as quick. Asked about his chance of taking pole position, he did not rule it out. His assessment was broader than the headline order: Russell finished seventh in the second session, while Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli was eighth.

Verstappen called Friday a ‘decent start’ and ‘positive’. Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache said the team had wanted to assess the package it introduced in Baku on a circuit with different corners. He said it appeared to work better than the previous package, while cautioning that relative performance was difficult to judge.

What the Sepang practice times showed

The first session had placed Leclerc fourth, Antonelli fifth and Lewis Hamilton sixth. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Norris were only 11th and 12th. By the second session, Norris had moved to third and Hamilton was fifth, 0.305 seconds behind Leclerc. The change in the order underlines why Friday’s two classifications cannot be read as a fixed ranking for the weekend.

Teams also took different approaches to tyres in opening practice. The FIA reported that Verstappen and Hadjar were among those who began on soft tyres, while most of the field started on mediums. That matters when comparing individual laps: the published classification records the times, but it does not put every driver on the same programme at the same moment.

The FIA said the opening session took place in hot, humid conditions at Sepang’s 5.5-kilometre circuit. Formula 1 is racing there for the first time since 2017. The BBC reported that teams were evaluating tyre wear on an unusually abrasive track, and assessed Verstappen as particularly strong on race simulation runs when stint length and tyre wear were considered. It said the four leading teams nevertheless appeared close.

Mercedes’ upgrade and tyre concerns

Mercedes brought its first major upgrade since the Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA reported. It included revised sidepod bodywork, changes to the floor and diffuser, and rear-suspension modifications. Russell was second fastest in the opening session before falling to seventh in the later one, so the Friday classifications alone offer no clear verdict on the new parts.

Russell said he could feel additional downforce in some corners, but tyre overheating and degradation were a larger concern for him. He described the response as setup work to address overnight, rather than a problem with the upgrade itself. The BBC reported that Russell trails championship leader Antonelli by 66 points after winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix the previous weekend.

What Saturday can clarify

Final practice and qualifying are scheduled for Saturday, 3 October, before Sunday’s Grand Prix. A clearer comparison will depend on what the teams show when they prepare for qualifying at the same venue. Friday established that Red Bull was quick in the opening session and remained prominent in the later one, even though Leclerc set the fastest second-session lap.

Leclerc’s warning about changing track conditions and Wache’s caution about judging relative performance both leave the competitive order open. Russell identified Verstappen’s speed but also pointed to McLaren’s longer-run pace. The evidence from Friday therefore supports Red Bull’s status as a contender, while the outcome of qualifying and the race remains unsettled.