Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Charles Leclerc tops second practice, Mercedes off the pace

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Leclerc: I still feel Red Bull are the stand out team (0:32)

Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in second practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with the session staying dry despite the threat of rain.

The Ferrari driver set the time halfway through the session on the soft compound tyre and crossed the line 0.099 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Isack Hadjar.

McLaren's Lando Norris was third-fastest, with Max Verstappen behind. The Dutchamn, who was fastest in first practice, spent the session doing long runs on the medium tyre, while the majority of the grid were on the soft tyres.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five and was three-tenths off his teammate Leclerc's pace.

McLaren made some adjustments to Norris' rear wing to get the 'Macarena' style rear wing that Oscar Piastri was using in first practice on Friday.

Piastri ended the second session in sixth, while Mercedes duo George Russell and title leader Kimi Antonelli were off the pace and finished down in seventh and eighth respectively. Both drivers were on soft tyres but had to abort their flying laps.

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Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto complained on the team radio that Hamilton got in his way on track, while the seven-time champion reported that "he can't see through" his right mirror. Hamilton was sent to the stewards and has received a warning, while Ferrari were fined €10,000 (£8,503).

Bortoleto also brought out the Virtual Safety Car in the closing stages of the session.

Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson was ninth and Alpine's Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10.