Lewis Hamilton secured second place in qualifying at the Sepang International Circuit during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in Malaysia. He reflected on the challenges of the session and praised Ferrari for their strong qualifying setup, which he described as “hitting the sweet spot.”
Hamilton qualified behind polesitter Max Verstappen, with the session marked by difficult conditions including intense heat that caused tyre overheating and car sliding. These factors required teams to make several setup adjustments throughout the weekend. Hamilton credited his team for a final setup change before qualifying that helped improve the car’s balance and performance, allowing him to close the gap to Verstappen.
The return of Formula 1® to Sepang after several years was notable, with practice sessions showing competitive times among Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, and Mercedes. Charles Leclerc qualified fifth but is set to move up to fourth following a grid penalty for Isack Hadjar. Leclerc reported balance issues during Q3, which caused some frustration, though he remained optimistic about his race prospects.
Hamilton acknowledged Verstappen’s strong long-run pace and highlighted that race conditions will differ from qualifying, with tyre degradation expected to be a significant factor. The heat and track conditions at Sepang presented a complex challenge for all teams, requiring careful management of tyre temperatures and car balance.
While Hamilton praised Ferrari’s qualifying setup, he also noted that the race will present different demands, and maintaining position will be key. Leclerc’s balance issues in the final qualifying segment underlined the difficulty of finding the right setup in such conditions, but his move up the grid after Hadjar’s penalty offers a slightly improved starting position.
The qualifying session at Sepang demonstrated the close competition between Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, and Mercedes, with each team showing strong pace under challenging circumstances. Hamilton’s reflections highlighted the importance of setup adjustments in managing the extreme heat and tyre behaviour at this circuit.
Hamilton’s comments provided insight into the technical and environmental challenges faced during qualifying, as well as the respect he holds for Ferrari’s approach to setup. The session underscored the fine margins involved in extracting performance in demanding conditions and set the stage for a competitive race weekend.