Leclerc Tops FP2 at Sepang Amid Rain Threats

Charles Leclerc put Ferrari on top during Free Practice 2 at the Sepang International Circuit, edging out Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and McLaren’s Lando Norris. The session became a race against the clock, with all 22 drivers rushing to gather critical data before forecasted heavy rains arrived.

Why it matters:

Sepang's unpredictable tropical weather and high humidity make FP2 essential for correlating simulation data with real-world performance. With the top three drivers separated by a mere 0.137 seconds, the competitive gap between Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren remains razor-thin as the weekend progresses.

The details:

• The Pace: Leclerc clocked the fastest lap with a 1:37.528, narrowly beating Isack Hadjar (1:37.627) and Lando Norris (1:37.665).
• Strategic Shifts: Most drivers initiated runs on Medium tires, though McLaren, Cadillac, and Alpine's Pierre Gasly opted for Softs early to maximize immediate grip.
• On-track Incidents: A tense encounter occurred between Lewis Hamilton and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto on the racing line. Hamilton later reported visibility issues with his right-hand mirror.
• Closing Chaos: The session ended abruptly when Gabriel Bortoleto triggered a Virtual Safety Car in the final two minutes after his car stopped in the middle sector, preventing any last-minute improvements.

The big picture:

The session highlighted the evolving 2026 grid, with newcomers like Hadjar and Bortoleto showing aggressive pace. While Max Verstappen set an early benchmark, his focus on Medium compounds suggests Red Bull is prioritizing long-run race trim over raw qualifying speed at this stage.

What's next:

With rain threats persisting, teams will now pivot to analyzing tire degradation data from today's long runs. The focus shifts to qualifying, where the ability to manage Sepang's volatile conditions will be the deciding factor for pole position.