Max Verstappen explains unconventional Red Bull decision in Malaysia

Max Verstappen embarked on a contrarian run plan during FP2 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia to hedge against the strong chance of rain.

With a 90 per cent likelihood of inclement weather during free practice 2 at the Sepang International Circuit, Verstappen wanted to get a longer stint in the books, in what is the most representative preparation session before the 56-lap race.

The Red Bull driver therefore sacrificed his one-lap understanding ahead of qualifying on Saturday, as the rain ultimately did stay away.

But having set the quickest time of the day on F1's return to Sepang for the first time in nine years, the four-time drivers' champion will not be too concerned.

"I think we had a decent start, but it's tricky," Verstappen said after an FP2 session contested in oppressive heat.

"The track is really hot. A lot of degradation, so a lot of things to figure out. But it's been positive."

Rationale for Verstappen's contrarian approach to FP2

Tyre wear will be high across the weekend on the abrasive track surface, and there are already predictions of a three-stop race.

Having carried on where he left off in 2017 by topping FP1 with a 1:37.520, Verstappen could not come within two-and-a-half tenths of that effort, going fourth quickest in the second hour, as track temperatures soared above 60 degrees Celsius.

"Progress is difficult," the 71-time grand prix winner added. "It was warmer again in FP2, different programmes.

"So hard to say [we made] progress, but there's still a lot of things to look at to try and understand better."

When asked for the rationale behind not running the soft compound tyre in FP2, Verstappen replied: "I wanted to do a long run in case there was some rain coming in."