Antonelli fastest in Sepang FP3, Verstappen second
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 3, 2026
Antonelli led practice
Kimi Antonelli topped final practice at Sepang International Circuit, putting in a best lap of 1:36.302 in the last five minutes and edging Max Verstappen by 0.278 seconds. Antonelli set the pace in an upgraded Mercedes and did it on an older set of soft tires. The session featured changing conditions and a track that was hard on tires throughout. The final lap moved him to the top and held there through the end of the run.
Verstappen, Red Bull close
Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, and Isack Hadjar took third after briefly going fastest before Antonelli reclaimed first place. George Russell finished fourth, Charles Leclerc took fifth for Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton ended sixth after leaving the pit lane late. Lando Norris finished seventh for McLaren and Oscar Piastri finished eighth for McLaren, with Franco Colapinto ninth and leading Alpine. Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
Red flag slows session
The session stopped briefly after debris appeared at Turn 10 when a piece of Oliver Bearman’s Haas came loose. That red flag interrupted FP3. The track was hard on tires throughout the session, and the conditions kept shifting as teams worked through the run. Qualifying was scheduled to follow final practice, giving the teams little time to reset before the next fight for grid position.
