FP2: Charles Leclerc Tops Second Practice Ahead of Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris at 2026 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia | October 2, 2026
Charles Leclerc put Ferrari at the top of the timesheets in the second practice session for the 2026 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, setting a 1:37.528 to lead a closely packed FP2 classification at the Sepang International Circuit.
Isack Hadjar finished just 0.099 seconds behind the Ferrari driver, while Lando Norris completed the top three for McLaren. Max Verstappen, who topped FP1 earlier in the day, finished fourth, while Lewis Hamilton placed fifth for Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc — Ferrari — 1:37.528
Isack Hadjar — Red Bull Racing — +0.099s
Lando Norris — McLaren — +0.137s
Leclerc Leads a Tight FP2 Session
The second practice session began at 16:00 local time with dark clouds gathering around Sepang and a forecast carrying a significant possibility of rain. Despite the uncertainty, all 22 drivers headed onto the circuit early in the session to maximise their running.
Most of the field initially selected the medium compound, while McLaren's two cars, both Cadillacs and Pierre Gasly's Alpine opted for soft tyres.
Max Verstappen immediately continued the pace he had shown in FP1, setting the early benchmark with a 1:37.785. However, once the soft-tyre runs began, the order changed rapidly.
Leclerc ultimately produced the fastest lap of the session with a 1:37.528. Hadjar moved into second, while Norris took third after McLaren showed stronger one-lap pace compared with its FP1 performance.
Full FP2 Classification
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:37.528 |
| 2 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | +0.099s |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.137s |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | +0.257s |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.305s |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.371s |
| 7 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.492s |
| 8 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.532s |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +0.968s |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1.060s |
| 11 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | +1.143s |
| 12 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | +1.174s |
| 13 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | +1.292s |
| 14 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1.477s |
| 15 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +1.532s |
| 16 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +1.574s |
| 17 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +1.610s |
| 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1.648s |
| 19 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | +1.704s |
| 20 | Alexander Albon | Williams | +1.772s |
| 21 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | +1.900s |
| 22 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +2.005s |
Verstappen Fourth but Fastest Overall on Friday
Although Verstappen finished fourth in FP2, his FP1 benchmark of 1:37.520 remained the fastest lap recorded across Friday's two practice sessions. Leclerc's FP2 time was only 0.008 seconds slower, underlining how closely matched the leading pace was at Sepang.
The Red Bull driver also completed his FP2 programme without switching to the soft tyre, leaving his fourth-place result somewhat different from the one-lap performances of several rivals who completed dedicated soft-tyre runs.
Mercedes Struggles to Match the Front
Mercedes had a quieter FP2 compared with its FP1 showing. George Russell finished seventh and Kimi Antonelli eighth after both drivers encountered difficulties during their soft-tyre runs.
Antonelli initially had a lap deleted for exceeding track limits, while Russell aborted his own attempt in the final sector. The Mercedes pair therefore ended the session behind both Red Bull cars, both Ferraris and both McLarens.
Bortoleto Brings Out the Virtual Safety Car
The closing stages were interrupted when Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto stopped at the side of the track with just two minutes remaining. The incident resulted in a Virtual Safety Car and brought the session to a subdued conclusion.
Bortoleto had also been involved in an earlier moment with Lewis Hamilton, after the Audi driver had to take avoiding action around the Ferrari. The incident was subsequently noted by the stewards, with Hamilton explaining that he had difficulty seeing through his right-hand mirror.
Friday Ends with a Closely Matched Field
The first day at Sepang produced two different session leaders. Verstappen controlled FP1, while Leclerc responded in FP2 with the fastest time of the afternoon.
The small gap between the leading laps suggests that the competitive picture remains tightly packed heading into Saturday. More importantly, the teams now have a full day of data from the unfamiliar Sepang layout to analyse before FP3 and qualifying.
Saturday at Sepang
Free Practice 3 is scheduled for 12:30 local time, followed by qualifying at 16:00 local time.
What FP2 Means for the Weekend
Leclerc's fastest time gives Ferrari a strong data point after the team's FP1 running, while Hadjar and Norris demonstrated that Red Bull and McLaren remain firmly in the fight at the front.
Verstappen's fourth-place FP2 result needs to be viewed alongside his FP1 benchmark, which remained the fastest lap of the day. Mercedes, meanwhile, has additional data to assess after both cars struggled to complete clean soft-tyre laps.
With qualifying still to come and the Sepang weekend only halfway through its competitive track programme, the final order remains open. The next major indication will come when the drivers return for FP3 before the fight for pole position begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was fastest in FP2 at the 2026 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
Charles Leclerc was fastest with a lap time of 1:37.528.
Who finished second in FP2?
Isack Hadjar finished second for Red Bull Racing, just 0.099 seconds behind Leclerc.
Where is the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix being held?
The event is being held at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, rather than Bahrain.
Who was fastest overall on Friday?
Max Verstappen remained fastest overall because his FP1 lap of 1:37.520 was 0.008 seconds quicker than Leclerc's FP2 benchmark.
When is FP3?
FP3 is scheduled for Saturday at 12:30 local time, followed by qualifying at 16:00.
Source: Formula 1 — Official FP2 report and 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia results.
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