F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Follow FP2 at Sepang with live timing

We published an explainer about the track surface and energy management at Sepang yesterday.

Max Verstappen sets the fastest of the first push laps, a 1m37.785s on the mediums.

McLaren had a particularly wretched FP1 by its recent standards so it'll be interesting to see how Norris and Piastri fare on those softs. When the rain arrives it will likely restore the track to 'green' condition and negate any gains wrought by rubber going down.

Again we note the teams reserving their C2 hard-compound tyres for later in the weekend. Most drivers out on the C4 mediums, apart from Gasly, Piastri, Norris, Bottas and Perez on softs.

In case you'd missed it, Mercedes has 'flipped' the colour scheme on its freshly upgraded W17 in deference to Malaysian fuel and lubes partner Petronas.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Srinivasa Krishnan

F1 TV obligingly cuts to a shot of the weather radar, where there's a massive cloud that looks uglier than a kebab shop fist fight.

We've been upgraded! Screens now saying 90% chance of rain.

Let us take you back to 2009, when someone had the bright idea of pushing back the race start – previously 1pm local – to 3pm for the convenience of European TV viewers.

For 10 laps it rained - but not enough for those who had made a quick swap to wet-weather tyres to gain any advantage. Then the heavens really opened and the race had to be stopped. When the rain didn't let up and the light began to fade, a putative restart was abandoned and half points awarded. Quite lucky for race winner Jenson Button - water had got into his steering wheel and the car wouldn't fire up.

It was a spectacular thunderstorm that rumbled on even after the rain had abated.

Photo by: Getty Images

Photo by: Getty Images

Although it's hot, humid and sunny at the moment, the info screens prognosticate a 70% chance of rain for FP2. Well, it's nearly 4pm, so that makes it about time for the daily deluge.

WELCOME BACK TO SEPANG

FP2 is imminent here at the temporary home of the Bahrain GP. Missed the earlier action? We've got you...