{
  "id": 11407907,
  "title": "Leclerc fastest in second practice in Sepang after Verstappen sets early pace",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/leclerc-fastest-in-second-practice-in-sepang-after-verstappen-sets",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:47:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/10/02/leclerc-fastest-in-second-practice-in-sepang-after-verstappen-sets-early-pace"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Charles Leclerc led Friday's second Formula One practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, setting a time of one minute, 37.528 seconds at the Sepang International Circuit. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, the championship leader, had dominated the opening session and maintained the fastest time of the day at 1:37.520 from FP1, but only managed fourth in the second session. McLaren's Lando Norris finished third in FP2, and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton was summoned to meet the stewards after impeding Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto. Virtual safety car conditions were triggered when Bortoleto had to stop his car on the track due to gearbox issues.",
  "summary": "The Ferrari driver lapped the 5.543km circuit with a time of one minute, 37.528 seconds, less than a tenth of a second faster than Red Bull's Isack Hadjar.",
  "key_points": [
    "Leclerc fastest in second practice at Sepang, 1:37.528",
    "Verstappen, championship leader, fourth in second session",
    "Hamilton summoned to stewards for impeding Bortoleto"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Verstappen sets pace as F1 returns to Sepang, McLaren struggles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/verstappen-sets-pace-as-f1-returns-to-sepang-mclaren-struggles",
        "published": "2026-10-02T09:34:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Leclerc fastest in second practice in Sepang after Verstappen sets early pace",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/leclerc-fastest-in-second-practice-in-sepang-after-verstappen-sets-11409210",
        "published": "2026-10-02T09:47:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}