Winners and losers from F1 practice day in Malaysia

Max Verstappen recorded the fastest time in the first free‑practice session at the Malaysia Grand Prix, with George Russell behind him. The event is being run as the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in Malaysia, a shift reflected in all reports. The practice day therefore produced two different session leaders.

Motorsport.com highlighted Verstappen’s dismissal of the oppressive heat, quoting him that “Months of preparation to not give an F!” Russell, speaking to the BBC, described Red Bull as the strongest team on the track. ESPN noted the Bahrain GP’s relocation to Malaysia while confirming Verstappen’s FP1 lead and Russell’s second place. The Race compiled a broader “winners and losers” list, noting that the session results reflected both driver skill and teams’ adaptation to the high‑temperature environment.

Coverage varies on the significance of the times; while ESPN focused on the leader changes, The Race provided little detail on lap differentials, and no outlet has released full timing sheets or tyre‑selection data. Reports do not address how the practice performances will translate into qualifying order, and they leave open whether the heat will persist into race conditions or affect strategy.