Grid shake-up in Malaysia: Isack Hadjar, three drivers hit with penalties ahead of Sepang race

Sepang: Max Verstappen set the fastest time during opening practice as Formula 1 made its return to the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit for the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix. Navigating air temperatures reaching 33°C and a track surface exceeding 51°C, the Red Bull driver demonstrated immediate pace on the venue's first appearance on the calendar since 2017. Despite the severe heat and high humidity, Verstappen dismissed concerns regarding the physical demands, remarking light-heartedly to the media that his preparation involved "deep mental preparation of not giving a f***". While remaining cautious about Red Bull's ultimate race prospects against upgraded rivals, the four-time world champion capitalised on the sweeping layout to top the Friday practice timesheets.

Hadjar Confirms Grid Drop for Red Bull

Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar confirmed he will incur a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's race following a power unit component change.

Isack Hadjar’s car has surpassed its permitted allocation of engine components for the 2026 season, with grid penalties incurred by stand-in driver Liam Lawson during Hadjar’s injury layoff tied to the car rather than treated as a separate allocation.

Under Formula One penalty regulations, introducing the first component beyond the seasonal limit incurs a 10-place grid penalty, while any subsequent element carries a five-place demotion.

Because Hadjar’s car has already triggered the initial 10-place penalty for each individual component, he is set to serve a five-place grid demotion relative to his qualifying position upon Formula One's return to Sepang.

Despite the demotion, the French driver expressed confidence in his package's underlying race pace, noting that Sepang's wide, flowing design offers ample overtaking opportunities to recover positions from further down the field if the car remains competitive.

Three Drivers Penalised Ahead of Race Day

Hadjar is one of three drivers hit with grid penalties for the Malaysian fixture. Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad faces a back-of-the-grid start after exceeding his permitted allocation across multiple power unit elements, including a fifth internal combustion engine, turbocharger, and exhaust system. Meanwhile, Alpine's Franco Colapinto incurs a stacked penalty comprising a fifth internal combustion engine and a separate five-place grid penalty carried over from a lap-36 restart collision at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The trio of sanctions reshapes the midfield order as teams grapple with the punishing tropical conditions.