{
  "id": 11416380,
  "title": "Leclerc fastest in second practice after Verstappen sets early pace",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/leclerc-fastest-in-second-practice-after-verstappen-sets-early-pace",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:58:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/motor-sports/2026/10/1546277/leclerc-fastest-second-practice-after-verstappen-sets-early"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sepang hosted the second Formula One practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc emerging as the fastest driver. Leclerc completed the 5.543-km circuit in a time of 1 minute, 37.528 seconds, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by less than a tenth of a second. Verstappen, who set the fastest time in the opening session, managed to finish fourth in the second session in his quest for his first win of the season. Meanwhile, championship leader Kimi Raikkonen struggled to find his rhythm on the dusty circuit, while McLaren's reigning world champion Lando Norris placed third-fastest after starting from 12th in the first session. George Russell and Kimi Raikkonen were seventh and eighth fastest respectively, while Lewis Hamilton faced disciplinary action from the stewards for impeding Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto.",
  "summary": "SEPANG: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped Friday’s second Formula One practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli struggled to find his rhythm at a dusty Sepang circuit.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "Sport : Bahrain GP In Malaysia: Leclerc Fastest In Second Practice At Sepang",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/sport-bahrain-gp-in-malaysia-leclerc-fastest-in-second-practice-at",
        "published": "2026-10-02T08:38:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Ferrari's Leclerc tops second free practice",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/ferraris-leclerc-tops-second-free-practice",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:09:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}