Kimi Antonelli topped final practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, recovering from a tough Friday for Mercedes. The Silver Arrows brought a heavily upgraded W17 to Sepang but struggled in earlier sessions. Antonelli set a 1m36.302s, two tenths quicker than Max Verstappen.
This comes as Sepang returns to F1 for the first time since 2017. FP3 was dry, with the hard tyre used for the first time in the main race simulation. Tyre degradation played a key role on the hot, low-grip surface.
Charles Leclerc set a 1m37.772s on hards, putting him third behind Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Leclerc was the only driver to use hards until George Russell was set to join him before a red flag. After debris flew off Oliver Bearman’s Haas at Turn 10, the session resumed with soft tyre runs.
Antonelli vaulted to the top with a 1m36.924s, giving him a 0.129s advantage over Russell. Leclerc split the pair with a 1m37.016s, and Isack Hadjar went top on a 1m36.860s. Antonelli reclaimed the lead with a 1m36.302s, five tenths ahead of Hadjar.
Verstappen set a 1m36.580s, putting Red Bull in the top three. Russell took fourth, Leclerc fifth. Lewis Hamilton was sixth, Norris seventh, Piastri eighth.
Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Résumé par HeadlinesBriefing