George Russell will start Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix in eighth spot

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Never mind the lack of an ice vest, George Russell is somehow going to need to be the coolest man in Malaysia if he is to turn seventh on the grid into a positive result in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

The first race in Sepang in nearly a decade – a late addition to the calendar because of the conflict in the Middle East – promises to be an absolute scorcher. It might even be worth setting your alarm for the 8am UK start time. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start in pole position for the first time this year. He will have Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton alongside him.

Max Verstappen (left) and Lewis Hamilton rolled back the years on Saturday

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It will be the first time since Hungary 2023 that those two gladiators have started on a front row together.…