Charles Leclerc Leads FP2 at Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Written with artificial intelligence.
In the second practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Charles Leclerc set the fastest time at 1m37.528s, edging out Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris. Despite a forecasted threat of rain, conditions remained dry throughout the session.
Leclerc Tops the Timesheet
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured the fastest lap during the second practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, clocking in at 1m37.528s. He finished just 0.099 seconds ahead of Isack Hadjar, who had previously placed third in FP1, while Lando Norris rounded out the top three.
Conditions and Practice Overview
The practice session took place at Sepang, marking its return to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 2017. Initially, forecasts indicated a 70% chance of rain, which increased to 90%, prompting a flurry of activity as all 22 drivers rushed to set times early in the session. Leclerc's impressive time came on fresh soft tires, helping him jump to the top of the time sheets.
Max Verstappen, who led FP1, set a time of 1m37.785s on medium tires, while George Russell from Mercedes followed closely behind. The session saw a mix of tire strategies, with many teams opting for soft tires early on due to the weather uncertainty.
Session Highlights
Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto provided excitement by racing closely through all sectors, with Bortoleto's car stopping late in the session, leading to a virtual safety car. The final order saw Leclerc, Hadjar, and Norris at the top, with Verstappen in fourth and Lewis Hamilton completing the top five.
Final Results of FP2
- 1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1m37.528s
- 2. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) - 1m37.627s
- 3. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1m37.665s
- 4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1m37.785s
- 5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 1m37.833s
Piastri, Russell, Antonelli, Lawson, and Gasly rounded out the top ten, all within a second of the leader's time.