What happened: Friday practice for the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia ran well off the expected pace as the track surface left times about four and a half seconds slower than forecast. Mercedes also failed to stand out as much as anticipated, and teams departed from more typical Friday run programs.

Why it matters: That clouds the first competitive read on the field before qualifying and the race at round 16 of the 2026 season. It also puts extra focus on Mercedes' new floor and sidepods after the team arrived at Sepang with a larger upgrade package.

What to watch: Watch whether later sessions return to more conventional qualifying-style runs and whether Mercedes closes the gap as teams adapt to the surface.