McLaren caught out by Sepang grip as Piastri sees rivals ahead

Unexpected track conditions unsettle McLaren

McLaren said unexpectedly low grip and a rougher-than-anticipated surface caught the team off guard during Friday practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, leaving it struggling to find a workable car set-up in FP1.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished the opening session 11th and 12th. The team made progress before FP2, where Norris climbed to third and Piastri recorded the sixth-fastest time.

Piastri expects a close fight at the front

“We definitely looked better in FP2 than FP1,” Piastri said, describing the first session as difficult and the second as “a bit more positive.” He also noted that the expected rain did not arrive, making tyre choices and running plans different from normal.

Looking ahead to qualifying, Piastri said the leading four teams appeared closely matched, with Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari each showing competitive pace at points. “I think we're maybe a tiny step behind, but we made a lot of progress from FP1,” he said.

Singh says McLaren still has potential to unlock

Senior Racing Director Randy Singh said the track’s lower grip and roughness had surprised the team. He credited work at the circuit and factory for improving the car’s position in FP2, but cautioned against predicting a pole-position challenge just yet.

“We're just focused on doing the best we can with the package that we have,” Singh said, adding that there was “lots of potential to try and exploit” and still substantial work to do.