Verstappen keeps the benchmark without even using soft tyres

Max Verstappen ends Friday at Sepang with the outright benchmark despite not even using soft tyres in FP2. His 1:37.520 from FP1 remains the fastest time of the day, eight thousandths ahead of Charles Leclerc.

Leclerc did top FP2 ahead of Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris, but Verstappen ran only on mediums in that session and still finished fourth. The raw FP2 order therefore probably understates the Red Bull’s one-lap potential.

The real test will come in FP3 and qualifying, but Friday already sends a clear signal: despite Mercedes’ upgrades and Ferrari’s pace, Verstappen retains performance that is hard to judge until the RB22 finally shows what it can do on softs.