After the second practice session, we have all the data from Sepang in Malaysia: let’s analyze the race pace, with Ferrari possibly set to surprise
The checkered flag waved at the end of FP2 at the Sepang circuit, returning to the calendar after nearly 10 years. The conditions on this first day were very challenging: the track was very dirty with little grip and, above all, extreme temperatures seriously stressed the tires. This puts a spotlight on race strategy and the simulations ahead of Sunday. Let’s examine the race pace times tried by the top teams in Malaysia: could Ferrari be back to winning?
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Charles Leclerc finished the session with the fastest time of the day, ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and reigning world champion Lando Norris in the McLaren. Max Verstappen clocked fourth, while Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five. The two Mercedes started from seventh and eighth. But on a circuit where overtaking is possible, race pace counts for a lot.
Race simulations: Red Bull and McLaren show attacking potential
Let’s review the race pace simulations of the leading teams. Red Bull—and especially Max Verstappen—impressed on Friday. The four-time world champion completed a long run on the yellow tire, allowing him to push more from the first lap. Lap after lap, his average times started to drop, but after just five laps, he settled into the 1:45s. From then on, he was very consistent and showed no sudden drop-off. Hadjar’s times were similar, though at a higher level.
The two Mercedes showed times that tend to equalize. Both ran on red tires, with George Russell starting more cautiously than Kimi Antonelli, likely to avoid over-stressing the softest compound immediately. The championship leader pushed harder throughout his simulation before switching to medium tires to end his run. Antonelli, who won in Baku, delivered an impressive performance: over fifteen laps, his lap times varied by just over a second, highlighting remarkable consistency.
McLaren also looks competitive, with Norris ahead of Oscar Piastri. Their pace oscillated between high 1:45s and low 1:44s, slightly slower than Mercedes.
How is Ferrari’s race pace? Analysis of Leclerc and Hamilton
Ferrari followed Antonelli’s strategy, starting on the red tire before switching to yellow for the final laps. Charles Leclerc’s attack lap was just a few thousandths slower than Antonelli’s. He then kept a steady 1:44.5 pace. Only in the final laps before his pit stop did the Monegasque increase the tempo. The medium tire showed strong results too; comparing times, Leclerc recorded 43.604 seconds against Antonelli’s 43.455 seconds on the attack lap.
Lewis Hamilton showed a similar race pace without flashing any peaks, holding a consistent 1:44 on both red and medium tires. However, his session was interrupted by a Virtual Safety Car to recover Bortoleto’s car.
Ferrari’s SF-26 appears to be well-prepared in Malaysia. It demonstrated a good tire management, which is crucial due to the high degradation levels. If Ferrari secures a good starting position, it could realistically fight for a podium.
*Cover photo: Marco Talluto, F1inGenerale
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