# Antonelli Tops F1 Practice After Friday Struggles

> Mercedes' Antonelli recovers from tough Friday to lead F1 practice at Sepang.
- Title: Antonelli Tops F1 Practice After Friday Struggles · Autosport
- Summary: Mercedes' Antonelli recovers from tough Friday to lead F1 practice at Sepang. Kimi Antonelli topped final practice at Sepang after Mercedes struggled on…
- Keywords: kimi antonelli, mercedes, ferrari, red bull racing, mclaren, sepang, f1 2026, sports, cars, Antonelli, Tops, Practice
- Source: Autosport — https://autosport.com/f1/news/f1-bahrain-gp-in-malaysia-antonelli-recovers-from-tough-friday-to-top-fp3/10861282
- Author: Ed Hardy
- Published: 2026-10-03T05:42:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: kimi antonelli, mercedes, ferrari, red bull racing, mclaren, sepang, f1, f1 2026, sports, cars
## Friday Practice Struggles
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli finished no higher than fifth in Friday practice at Sepang.
## FP3 Performance
Antonelli topped final practice with a 1m36.302s time, two tenths quicker than Verstappen.
## Tyre Strategy Impact
Charles Leclerc set a 1m37.772s on white-striped rubber, 0.611s behind Norris and Piastri.
## Red Flag Interruption
A 25th-minute red flag halted practice after debris from Oliver Bearman's Haas.
## Antonelli's Dominance
Antonelli set a 1m36.302s, five tenths ahead of Hadjar and Verstappen.
## Final Podium Positions
Antonelli led with Verstappen second, Hadjar third, Russell fourth, Leclerc fifth.
## Next Race Implications
Sepang returns to F1 for the first time since 2017, with tyre degradation affecting Friday practice.
## Key takeaway

Kimi Antonelli topped final practice at Sepang after Mercedes struggled on Friday, setting a 1m36.302s time.