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F1 Malaysia Practice Stays Dry, Antonelli Seeks Redemption, Russell Revived
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News18•02-10-2026, 15:30
F1 Malaysia Practice Stays Dry, Antonelli Seeks Redemption, Russell Revived
- •Formula 1's replacement race in Malaysia, expected to be a wet weather test, saw both Friday practice sessions remain dry, leaving uncertainty for potential rain-affected racing.
- •Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc topped the two practice sessions, respectively, while standings leader Kimi Antonelli aimed to recover from his "worst weekend" of the season.
- •The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia marks F1's return to a track last visited in 2017, known for chaotic races, sudden downpours, and abrasive asphalt.
- •Kimi Antonelli, despite a dominant 66-point lead, seeks to put a "very disruptive" week behind him after a crash in Azerbaijan qualifying trimmed his lead.
- •George Russell, who won in Azerbaijan, feels more comfortable with the 2026 cars and anticipates further improvement with new Mercedes upgrades; Lewis Hamilton defended Ferrari amid recent struggles.
Key Questions Answered
Formula 1 returned to Malaysia as a replacement race because of the disruption caused by the Iran war, visiting the track for the first time since 2017.
Kimi Antonelli holds a dominant 66-point lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, although that margin was trimmed down from 81 points following his crash and recovery drive in Azerbaijan.
Lewis Hamilton stated that Ferrari remains united and defended the team against negative outside sources trying to break their spirit, while confirming confidence in team principal Fred Vasseur.
