Kimi Antonelli was fastest from Max Verstappen in final practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia to set up a Mercedes versus Red Bull fight for pole position.
Antonelli, who leads the Drivers’ Championship by 66 points from his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, struggled on Friday but was 0.278s quicker than Verstappen.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar took third ahead of Russell fourth but both drivers were more than half a second behind Antonelli, who appears to have found a nice rhythm in time for qualifying later on Saturday at 9am, live on Sky Sports F1, at the Sepang International Circuit.
Mercedes have brought their biggest upgrade package since May’s Canadian Grand Prix to Malaysia but Red Bull look set to be a threat again, just as they were last time out in Baku.
“Red Bull would have hoped to be closer to the Mercedes, but they are there or thereabouts once again,” said Sky Sports F1’s Anthony Davidson.
“They’re quickly becoming the team that’s the biggest threat to Mercedes on any given weekend.”
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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped second practice but was seven tenths back in fifth while his team-mate Lewis Hamilton was sixth, despite providing positive feedback following his final practice lap.
McLaren appeared to be out of contention for pole as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were seventh and eighth, although the fact Norris’ best lap was done on the mediums suggested they retain room for improvement.
Tyres are a major talking point this weekend due to the extremely rough track surface coupled with the high temperatures and humidity as F1 races in Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the country having stepped in to host for Bahrain following the original race being postponed earlier this year due to insecurity in the Persian Gulf.
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Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who has a combined 15-grid place penalty for causing a collision last weekend in Baku and taking a new engine in Sepang, was ninth in final practice and Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad was 10th.
There was a brief red flag after a piece of debris got stuck on Oliver Bearman’s Haas after falling onto the circuit at Turn 10, seeing the session momentarily stopped to allow for a marshal to collect it.
Fernando Alonso continued his strong weekend for Aston Martin in 12th and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto was 11th, so at least four teams are in the battle for the final points-paying positions.
Sky Sports F1’s live schedule Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Saturday October 3
8am: Bahrain GP Qualifying build-up*
9am: BAHRAIN GP QUALIFYING*
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Sunday October 4
6.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Bahrain GP build-up*
8am: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX*
10am: Chequered Flag: Bahrain GP reaction*
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit – watch Sunday’s race at 8am (build-up from 6.30am), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime