Antonelli puts Mercedes back on top with late Sepang lap, 0.610s ahead of Russell

Summary

• Antonelli led FP3 with 1:36.302, restoring Mercedes to first place after a difficult Friday.
• Verstappen finished 0.278s behind, ahead of Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar.
• Russell was fourth, Ferrari fifth and sixth, and Bortoleto 11th for Audi.

Kimi Antonelli returned Mercedes to the top of the timesheets with a late improvement in final practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The championship leader recorded 1:36.302 at Sepang on Saturday, 3 October, finishing 0.278s ahead of Max Verstappen.

Isack Hadjar completed the top three for Red Bull, having briefly led before Antonelli’s decisive lap. George Russell finished fourth, 0.610s behind his Mercedes teammate, as the team produced a stronger showing after its difficult Friday.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton placed fifth and sixth for Ferrari, separated by just 0.025s. Lando Norris finished seventh with his best lap set on medium tyres, followed by McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad completed the top ten, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished 11th for Audi. The Brazilian recorded 1:38.204, placing him ahead of Fernando Alonso and 0.152s clear of teammate Nico Hülkenberg.

The final hour of practice gave Mercedes an encouraging response before qualifying, although different tyre programmes meant the classification did not offer a straightforward comparison between all the leading F1 teams.

Mercedes waits before making its move

Sepang remained demanding as the session began, with air temperatures around 32°C and the track reaching 58°C. Dust and limited grip continued to complicate the drivers’ attempts to build confidence through the corners.

The opening stages were quiet, with Sergio Pérez and Colapinto among the first drivers to record times. Pierre Gasly subsequently moved ahead before the leading teams began their programmes.

Leclerc initially put Ferrari first on hard tyres with 1:37.772. Norris then lowered the benchmark to 1:37.161 on mediums, establishing a time that would remain his best at the end of the session.

Mercedes kept both cars in the garage through much of the opening half-hour, waiting for more running to improve the racing line. A brief red flag for debris interrupted proceedings before Antonelli and Russell finally joined the action on soft tyres.

Antonelli finds another step in the closing minutes

Mercedes immediately appeared competitive once its drivers began their qualifying preparation. Antonelli recorded 1:36.924, with Russell initially 0.129s behind, putting the pair ahead of Norris.

Verstappen began his running on mediums, while Hamilton used softs. The Ferrari driver’s programme included a disrupted attempt after encountering Lindblad and a report that his right-hand mirror was moving.

The order changed again as the session entered its closing stages. Hadjar took first place with 1:36.860, and Russell’s improvement to 1:36.912 left him 0.052s behind the Red Bull.

Antonelli then delivered the decisive response. His 1:36.302 put him 0.558s ahead of Hadjar and established the fastest lap of the weekend so far.

Verstappen subsequently improved to 1:36.580, splitting Antonelli and Hadjar. That left Mercedes first and fourth, with both Red Bulls between its drivers.

Ferrari follows, while Norris stays on mediums

Leclerc finished fifth with 1:37.016, narrowly ahead of Hamilton’s 1:37.041. Ferrari therefore ended final practice behind Mercedes and Red Bull after Leclerc had led Friday’s second session.

Norris’s seventh place required a different reading because his benchmark came on medium tyres. Piastri finished eighth, 0.205s behind his teammate, leaving McLaren outside the top six before qualifying.

Colapinto led the midfield runners in ninth, ahead of Lindblad and Bortoleto. Alonso placed 12th, followed by Gasly, Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson.

Hülkenberg finished 16th, while Oliver Bearman, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll and Alex Albon completed the next four positions. Cadillac occupied the bottom two places, with Valtteri Bottas ahead of Pérez.

Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026: full FP3 results

Qualifying begins at 16:00 in Malaysia on Saturday, 3 October, equivalent to 09:00 CEST, 08:00 BST and 13:30 IST. In the United States and Canada, that is 04:00 EDT and 01:00 PDT; in Sydney and Melbourne, it is 18:00 AEST.

Formula 1 continues this weekend, from 2–4 October, in Malaysia, which hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Sepang.

F1 today: FAQ

Who won the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?

Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang on Sunday, 4 October, taking his first victory of the 2026 F1 season. Kimi Antonelli finished second, with Lewis Hamilton completing the podium.

Why was the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia delayed?

Heavy rain initially delayed the start at Sepang. Several drivers then experienced power delivery problems during the formation procedure, forcing race control to suspend the start again. The race eventually began more than 90 minutes after its scheduled time.

How far ahead is Kimi Antonelli in the F1 championship?

Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 84 points after finishing second at Sepang while his Mercedes teammate retired. Antonelli has 320 points, Russell has 236 and Lewis Hamilton is third with 214.

Who was fastest in FP3 at Sepang?

Kimi Antonelli led final practice with 1:36.302, beating Max Verstappen by 0.278s.