Formula 1 returns to the Sepang circuit for Bahrain Grand Prix FP2, with the second practice session expected to provide the first meaningful race simulations of the weekend. The Malaysian venue is hosting the rescheduled Bahrain GP, and the next hour of running should offer a clearer indication of how Ferrari and its rivals perform with higher fuel loads.
FP2 is traditionally one of the most informative sessions of a Grand Prix weekend because teams can move beyond shorter performance runs and begin loading the cars with fuel for longer race-pace simulations. That should make the session particularly useful for understanding the competitive order ahead of the race, although it remains too early for definitive conclusions.
The session is scheduled to begin at 10:00 CET and, barring interruptions or unexpected delays, will run for one hour until 11:00 CET. The complete timetable for the weekend can be found in our 2026 Bahrain GP at Sepang schedule and circuit guide.
Bahrain GP FP2 race simulations take centre stage at Sepang
Max Verstappen was quickest during the opening practice session earlier in the day, finishing ahead of George Russell, Isack Hadjar and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. Those results established the first reference points of the weekend, but FP1 alone was not enough to define the true competitive hierarchy.
One particularly interesting detail concerned Mercedes. The updated car, equipped with a substantial new development package, appeared to encounter difficulties during the high-fuel race-pace running in the opening session. However, the weekend is still in its early stages and the picture can change considerably as teams refine their setups and gather more representative data.
For Ferrari, Charles Leclerc’s fourth place in FP1 provided an initial benchmark, but the longer runs in FP2 should be far more useful in understanding where the Maranello team stands relative to Mercedes, Red Bull and the rest of the field. With heavier fuel loads and longer sequences of laps expected, consistency and tyre behaviour will become increasingly important areas to monitor.
Why FP2 could provide the first clear race-pace clues
The second practice session therefore represents the first major opportunity for teams to evaluate their cars in conditions more closely related to the race. Long runs should begin to reveal how performance develops over several laps rather than over a single qualifying-style attempt.
Any conclusions will still need to be treated cautiously. Setup work is continuing across the field, the weekend remains at an early stage and the performance picture seen in FP1 may change significantly during FP2. Even so, the upcoming simulations should provide the clearest information so far about the relative strengths of Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and their rivals at Sepang.
Race-pace trends from the practice sessions can also be compared through the ScuderiaFans F1 Practice & Long-Run Analysis, as the teams begin building a more complete picture of their Bahrain Grand Prix performance.
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