Kimi Antonelli sets the pace in Free Practice 3 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, topping the session ahead of Max Verstappen and setting up a Mercedes vs Red Bull battle for pole. Multiple outlets report that Antonelli goes quickest for the first time over the weekend by responding strongly on Saturday after a difficult start.
According to reports, Mercedes brings a heavily upgraded W17 to Sepang, but performance in earlier practice is mixed: the team manages only limited results on Friday, with other teams appearing more competitive in FP1 and FP2. One report notes Antonelli is eighth fastest in Friday’s FP2 before improving his run to lead FP3 on soft tyres, with a lap time of 1:36.302.
The outlets broadly agree on the session outcome and the key context: Antonelli’s turnaround from Friday to FP3 prominence, and the implication that the next stage of the weekend—qualifying and the fight for pole—tightens between Mercedes and Red Bull.
