Formula 1 returns to Sepang today for the 2026 Bahrain GP, with Malaysia hosting the relocated race after the original event in Sakhir was cancelled earlier in the season. Friday features two practice sessions as teams begin reacquainting themselves with the Sepang International Circuit for the first Formula 1 weekend at the venue since 2017.
FP1 starts at 12:30 local time in Malaysia, followed by FP2 at 16:00, with hot, humid conditions and a significant risk of rain adding another challenge. The unusual weekend also arrives at an important stage of the championship after George Russell cut the advantage of Kimi Antonelli to 66 points with victory in Azerbaijan.
Mercedes remain comfortably ahead in the Constructors’ Championship, but the battle between their two drivers has tightened heading into the final eight rounds. Sepang’s heat, tyre demands and unpredictable tropical weather could make Friday particularly important as teams prepare for a circuit that has been absent from the calendar for nine years.
Bahrain GP practice times today
Friday features the opening two practice sessions of the Bahrain GP in Malaysia. Teams have three hours of running across FP1 and FP2 before final practice and qualifying on Saturday.
Free Practice 1
- Malaysia (MYT): 12:30 to 13:30
- United Kingdom (BST): 05:30 to 06:30
- United States Eastern (ET): 00:30 to 01:30
- United States Pacific (PT): 21:30 to 22:30 Thursday
- Australia (AEST): 14:30 to 15:30
- New Zealand (NZDT): 17:30 to 18:30
Free Practice 2
- Malaysia (MYT): 16:00 to 17:00
- United Kingdom (BST): 09:00 to 10:00
- United States Eastern (ET): 04:00 to 05:00
- United States Pacific (PT): 01:00 to 02:00
- Australia (AEST): 18:00 to 19:00
- New Zealand (NZDT): 21:00 to 22:00
FP2 should provide the more representative qualifying and race preparation as teams move onto softer compounds and longer runs. Rain remains a possibility, however, and any interruption could make Saturday’s final practice considerably more important.
Full Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026 schedule
The relocated Bahrain GP follows the traditional three day Formula 1 weekend format at Sepang. Qualifying takes place on Saturday before the 56 lap Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.
More from the Singapore GP
Catch up with Total Motorsport's latest Singapore GP coverage, including Max Verstappen's victory at Marina Bay, Ferrari's costly strategy gamble, the full race classification, and the updated 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' Championship standings.
| Session | Date | Local time |
|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday, October 2 | 12:30 |
| Practice 2 | Friday, October 2 | 16:00 |
| Practice 3 | Saturday, October 3 | 12:30 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, October 3 | 16:00 |
| Bahrain GP | Sunday, October 4 | 15:00 |
The Sepang International Circuit measures 5.543 km, with Sunday’s race covering 56 laps and a total distance of just over 310 km. Sebastian Vettel’s 1:34.080 from the 2017 Malaysian GP remains the official race lap record.
Bahrain GP weather forecast for Friday
Friday is expected to be extremely hot and humid at Sepang, with air temperatures reaching around 32C and the heat index climbing towards 37C. Track temperatures could approach 54C, placing considerable stress on both the tyres and drivers.
There is around a 50% chance of rain across the day, meaning either practice session could be affected by a tropical shower. Sepang has a long history of sudden downpours developing rapidly, which can turn an apparently dry session into a wet one with very little warning.
Humidity will also influence driver preparation because the cockpit temperature can become particularly demanding over longer runs. Teams will want as much dry running as possible while still being ready to switch immediately to intermediate or wet tyres if a storm reaches the circuit.
Why the Bahrain GP is being held in Malaysia
The 2026 Bahrain GP was originally scheduled to take place at the Bahrain International Circuit in April. That event was cancelled amid the conflict in the Middle East before Formula 1, the FIA and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia agreed to restage the race at Sepang in October.
The event officially remains the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with Bahrain retaining the Grand Prix name and rights while Sepang provides the venue. It creates one of the most unusual races in modern F1 history and brings Formula 1 back to Malaysia for the first time since 2017.
The move also means teams face completely different conditions from those normally associated with Bahrain. Instead of dry desert heat and a night race, they must manage tropical humidity, afternoon temperatures and the constant possibility of heavy rain.
What matters in F1 practice today at Sepang
Friday will be particularly important because none of the current generation of Formula 1 cars have raced at Sepang. Teams have simulator data, but real track information with the 2026 cars will be vital for understanding balance, tyre degradation and energy usage.
The main areas to watch include:
- Tyre degradation in the high temperatures
- Rear tyre temperatures through the slower corners
- High speed balance through Sepang’s flowing sections
- Straight line performance on the two long straights
- Energy deployment and recovery around the lap
- Cooling in the extreme heat and humidity
- How quickly teams adapt if rain arrives
- Long run pace during FP2
- Track evolution after nine years away from Formula 1
Sepang combines long straights with medium and high speed corners, making aerodynamic efficiency particularly important. Teams need enough downforce to protect the tyres through the flowing middle sector without becoming vulnerable on the straights.
Russell arrives with momentum after Baku win
Russell arrives in Malaysia after one of his strongest weekends of the season, having taken pole position and victory at the Azerbaijan GP. He held off Max Verstappen in the closing stages to secure his third victory of 2026 and reduce Antonelli’s championship lead from 81 points to 66.
The result gave Russell renewed hope of keeping the title fight alive heading into the final eight rounds. He now has 236 points compared with Antonelli’s 302, leaving a sizeable deficit but enough races remaining for the situation to change quickly.
Mercedes should again be among the teams to watch at Sepang after dominating much of the opening part of the season. Friday will reveal whether the W17’s strengths translate to a circuit requiring a very different compromise from the streets of Baku.
Antonelli looks to respond after difficult Azerbaijan weekend
Antonelli endured one of his more difficult weekends of the season in Azerbaijan after crashing during Q1 and starting only 16th. He recovered to fifth in the race, limiting the damage but still surrendering 15 points to Russell.
The championship leader remains in a strong position with 302 points and eight rounds left, but the margin no longer looks as overwhelming as it did before Baku. A clean Friday at Sepang would allow Antonelli to rebuild confidence and establish whether he can immediately respond to his teammate’s recent surge.
Sepang may also suit Antonelli’s strengths through its mixture of fast directional changes and technical corners. The larger question is how quickly both Mercedes drivers adapt to a track neither has previously raced in Formula 1.
Ferrari need to close the gap to Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton remains third in the Drivers’ Championship with 199 points for Ferrari, although he is now 103 points behind Antonelli. Charles Leclerc sits fifth on 179 points after finishing fourth in Azerbaijan.
The more significant target for Ferrari may be the Constructors’ Championship, where the Scuderia trail Mercedes by 160 points. That is a considerable margin, making weekends such as Sepang important if Ferrari are to keep any realistic pressure on the leaders.
Both drivers have previous experience of the venue from earlier stages of their careers, with Hamilton having won the Malaysian GP in 2014. That familiarity could provide an early advantage while younger drivers learn the circuit for the first time.
McLaren look to rebound after difficult Baku weekend
McLaren arrive in Malaysia third in the Constructors’ Championship on 306 points, 72 behind Ferrari and 232 behind Mercedes. Lando Norris remains fourth in the Drivers’ Championship on 186 points, while Oscar Piastri sits seventh with 120.
Azerbaijan was a difficult race for the team, with Norris retiring while Piastri was unable to convert his strong starting position into a podium. Sepang offers a completely different challenge and could suit a car that has generally performed well through fast, flowing corners.
Managing tyre temperatures could become one of McLaren’s biggest priorities during FP2. The combination of extreme track temperatures and several sustained corners gives teams an opportunity to learn how aggressively they can push during Sunday’s longer stints.
Verstappen returns to the scene of his 2017 victory
Verstappen arrives at Sepang after finishing just 0.196 seconds behind Russell in Azerbaijan, his closest opportunity yet to take a first Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season. The Red Bull Racing driver also has particularly good memories of the Malaysian circuit.
He won the final Malaysian Grand Prix held at Sepang in 2017 after passing Hamilton early in the race. Nine years later, Verstappen returns as one of the few drivers on the current grid with genuine Formula 1 race experience at the venue.
Red Bull Racing have also closed the gap to McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship after another strong Azerbaijan result. Isack Hadjar’s third place in Baku helped move Red Bull onto 263 points, only 43 behind McLaren.
Why Sepang is such a demanding F1 circuit
Sepang was one of Formula 1’s most distinctive circuits during its original spell on the calendar from 1999 to 2017. The 5.543 km layout contains 15 corners, two enormous straights and a mixture of slow hairpins and fast, loaded corners.
The wide track creates several possible racing lines and traditionally produces more overtaking opportunities than many modern venues. Its combination of heavy braking, traction zones and high speed direction changes also forces teams to find a compromise between straight line efficiency and aerodynamic grip.
Tyres face significant lateral and longitudinal loads, particularly when track temperatures rise above 50C. Managing overheating across a long stint may therefore become as important as outright pace during Friday’s FP2 race simulations.
Rain could completely change Friday practice
Sepang’s tropical climate means weather can change far more quickly than at most Formula 1 circuits. A cloudburst can soak one part of the circuit while another remains almost dry, creating difficult decisions over when to switch tyres.
That makes every dry lap valuable because teams cannot assume they will complete their planned programmes. A wet FP1 followed by a dry FP2, or the reverse, could leave drivers with limited information before qualifying.
Several members of the current grid have also never driven an F1 car at Sepang before. Wet conditions would make their learning process significantly harder while potentially giving experienced drivers such as Hamilton, Verstappen and Fernando Alonso an advantage.
Championship context before the Bahrain GP
Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship with 302 points, while Russell sits second on 236, leaving a gap of 66 points. Hamilton is third on 199, followed by Norris on 186 and Leclerc on 179.
Verstappen sits sixth with 163 points, ahead of Piastri on 120 and Hadjar on 86. With eight rounds remaining, the mathematical picture still leaves significant opportunities for the championship order to change.
Mercedes are in an even stronger position among the constructors with 538 points, 160 ahead of Ferrari on 378. McLaren hold third with 306, while Red Bull Racing have moved within 43 points of them on 263.
The biggest immediate question is whether Russell’s Baku performance marked the beginning of a sustained championship challenge. Friday at Sepang will provide the first indication of whether he can maintain that momentum or whether Antonelli can reassert control.
F1 Today FAQs: Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026
FP1 starts at 12:30 local time in Malaysia, with FP2 beginning at 16:00. The two sessions take place on Friday, October 2.
FP1 starts at 05:30 BST, while FP2 begins at 09:00 BST. Qualifying takes place at 09:00 BST on Saturday.
FP1 begins at 00:30 ET and 21:30 PT on Thursday evening. FP2 starts at 04:00 ET and 01:00 PT.
The original Bahrain GP at Sakhir was cancelled after the conflict in the Middle East affected the April event. Formula 1 later agreed to stage the Bahrain GP at Sepang in Malaysia from October 2 to 4.
The race is being held at the Sepang International Circuit near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Formula 1 last raced at Sepang in 2017.
Friday is forecast to be hot and humid with temperatures reaching around 32C and a 50% chance of rain. Track temperatures could approach 54C if conditions remain dry.
Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship with 302 points, 66 ahead of George Russell. Lewis Hamilton is third on 199 points.
Max Verstappen won the 2017 Malaysian GP for Red Bull Racing, the last Formula 1 race held at Sepang before its 2026 return.
Sunday’s race is scheduled for 56 laps of the 5.543 km Sepang International Circuit. The race starts at 15:00 local time.
