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Lindblad gains 13 places as Leclerc loses 18 on Sepang’s first racing lap

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-10-04GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

Arvid Lindblad gained 13 places on Sepang’s first racing lap, rising from 22nd to ninth, while Charles Leclerc lost 18 and fell from fourth to 22nd.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Arvid Lindblad made the biggest gain on the first racing lap of Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at Sepang, climbing from 22nd on the grid to ninth (+13). Charles Leclerc had the largest drop, falling from fourth to 22nd (-18).

Rain and thunderstorms delayed the start, and the first start procedure was suspended after several drivers struggled to maintain speed on the formation lap. The race eventually began in slippery, mixed conditions, with drivers on different tyre compounds.

Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon each gained 10 places. Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz gained seven apiece, Sergio Perez six and George Russell five. Lewis Hamilton fell 15 places, from second to 17th; Lando Norris dropped from fifth to 15th (-10), and Pierre Gasly from ninth to 18th (-9).

Replays showed Leclerc’s front wing was damaged in an incident involving Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi at the start. A front-wing change lengthened Leclerc’s pit stop. Hamilton finished third and Leclerc fourth.

Sources 02
  1. PRIMARY SOURCEWho gained and lost the most places at the start in Sepang?Formula 1
  2. PRIMARY SOURCEVerstappen wins Bahrain GP in Malaysia as Russell retiresFormula 1