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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Sky Sports’ Bernie Collins takes a look at Mercedes upgrades as they head into the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
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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George Russell said on Friday that the track conditions were trumping Mercedes’ upgrades on the Sepang International Circuit
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.
Bahrain GP Practice Three Timesheet
Driver
Team
Time
1) Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
1:36.302
2) Max Verstappen
Red Bull
+0.278
3) Isack Hadjar
Red Bull
+0.558
4) George Russell
Mercedes
+0.610
5) Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
+0.714
6) Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
+0.739
7) Lando Norris
McLaren
+0.859
8) Oscar Piastri
McLaren
+1.064
9 Franco Colapinto
Alpine
+1.618
10) Arvid Lindblad
Racing Bulls
+1.782
11) Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi
+1.902
12) Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
+1.921
13) Pierre Gasly
Alpine
+1.939
14) Esteban Ocon
Haas
+1.950
15) Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls
+1.964
16) Nico Hulkenberg
Audi
+2.054
17) Oliver Bearman
Haas
+2.390
18) Carlos Sainz
Williams
+2.414
19) Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
+2.509
20) Alex Albon
Williams
+2.747
21) Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac
+3.629
22) Sergio Perez
Cadillac
+3.921
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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Relive the last time a Grand Prix was held in Malaysia back in 2017
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