Sepang:Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One racer Kimi Antonelli gained a significant advantage before today's qualifying session by recording the fastest lap in the final free practice session of the 2026 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Antonelli, who had finished fifth and eighth in the first two practice sessions with times of 138.58 and 138.020 respectively, set the pace with a lap of 136.302 in the third session.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, who was the fastest in the initial practice, secured the second spot with a time of 136.580, while Isack Hadjar, also from Red Bull, came in third with a lap time of 136.860. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, the leader of the second practice session, ended up in fifth place with a time of 137.016. The reigning world champion, Lando Norris of McLaren, finished seventh, clocking in at 137.161.

The qualifying session is set to commence at 4 pm today.

In July, it was confirmed that Malaysia would host the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP from October 2 to 4. This decision followed an agreement between Formula 1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain. The arrangement allowed the Bahrain GP to remain on the 2026 F1 calendar after it was initially cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Malaysia has a history with F1, having hosted the Malaysian GP at Sepang from 1999 to 2017 before it was removed from the calendar.