Mercedes F1’s Kimi Antonelli topped the timings in FP3 at the 2026 F1 Malaysia weekend, full results below.
The sport made its long-awaited return to the Sepang International Circuit, with cars taking to the track in Malaysia for the first time in nine years. The grid spent much of Friday learning the circuit, as teams used the two practice sessions to gather data and improve their understanding of the track. Max Verstappen set the pace in FP1 before Charles Leclerc topped the timings in FP2.
FP3 got off to a quiet start, with little activity on track during the opening stages of the session. However, the drivers who left the pit lane opted to run on the soft tyres. Pierre Gasly set an early-session benchmark with a 1:38.241. Soon, Leclerc joined the track on a set of hard tyres, with Lando Norris following shortly after on a set of mediums.
A piece of debris flew off Ollie Bearman’s car at Turn 10 and brought the session to a halt as race control brought out the red flags. However, once the session resumed, teams and drivers wasted no time and headed back out on track for more laps. As it stood, Kimi Antonelli, George Russell and Norris rounded out the top three.
With most drivers on qualifying simulations, lap times continued to tumble. In the closing stages of the session, Verstappen and Hadjar split the Mercedes duo, slotting into second and third, respectively. However, as the chequered flag fell, Antonelli led the way at the top of the timings, with Verstappen and Hadjar trailing behind.
2026 F1 Malaysia | FP3 results
- Antonelli – 1:36.302
- Verstappen – 1:36.580
- Hadjar – 1:36.860
- Russell – 1:36.912
- Leclerc – 1:37.016
- Hamilton – 1:37.041
- Norris – 1:37.161
- Piastri – 1:37.366
- Colapinto – 1:37.920
- Lindblad – 1:38.084
- Bortoleto – 1:38.204
- Alonso – 1:38.223
- Gasly – 1:38.241
- Ocon – 1:38.252
- Lawson – 1:38.266
- Hülkenberg – 1:38.356
- Bearman – 1:38.692
- Sainz – 1:38.716
- Stroll – 1:38.811
- Albon – 1:39.049
- Bottas – 1:39.931
- Perez – 1:40.223
