F1 Bahrain GP long runs: Max Verstappen the favourite in Malaysia?

Max Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver during the long runs in the second free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, running on medium tyres. He was followed by George Russell in second and Charles Leclerc in third, with the gaps indicating a competitive field but no clear order yet established.

Mercedes faced challenges with their new update package, showing a potential loss of pace compared to previous races. McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished fourth and sixth, respectively, while Alpine's Pierre Gasly led a tightly packed midfield. The session highlighted significant tyre wear issues, suggesting a two-stop strategy may be necessary for the race.