Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc in action during the free practice session for the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. (EPA Images pic)

SEPANG: Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped Friday's second Formula One practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli struggled to find his rhythm at a dusty Sepang circuit.

Leclerc lapped the 5.543-km circuit with a time of one minute, 37.528 seconds, less than a tenth of a second faster than Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, who improved his lap time on the soft tyres.

McLaren's reigning world champion Lando Norris was third-fastest in FP2 after finishing 12th in the first session at the Sepang International Circuit, which is hosting the Bahrain race due to the conflict in the Middle East.