Formula 1 returns to Sepang today for the 2026 Bahrain GP in Malaysia, with Max Verstappen starting from pole position for Red Bull Racing. The Dutchman dominated qualifying to secure his first pole of the season and put himself in position to claim his first Grand Prix victory of 2026.
The race starts at 15:00 local time in Malaysia, which is 08:00 in the UK, 03:00 ET and 00:00 PT. Verstappen shares the front row with Lewis Hamilton after the Ferrari driver produced his strongest qualifying performance of the weekend.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli starts third for Mercedes after Isack Hadjar was demoted five places by a power unit penalty. Charles Leclerc completes the second row, giving four different championship contenders a prominent position at the front.
What time does the F1 race start today?
The 2026 Bahrain GP in Malaysia starts at 15:00 local time at the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday, October 4. The race is scheduled for 56 laps around the 5.543 km circuit, producing a total distance of just over 310 km.
Race start times around the world:
- Malaysia (MYT): 15:00
- United Kingdom (BST): 08:00
- Central Europe (CEST): 09:00
- United States Eastern (ET): 03:00
- United States Pacific (PT): 00:00
- Australia (AEST): 17:00
- Sydney / Melbourne (AEDT): 18:00
- New Zealand (NZDT): 20:00
The Malaysian heat and humidity are expected to make the race one of the most physically demanding of the season. Tyre degradation has also been unusually high throughout the weekend, opening the possibility of multiple pit stops rather than a conventional one stop strategy.
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.
Bahrain GP starting grid
Verstappen claimed pole with a 1:35.130, finishing 0.298 seconds clear of Hamilton after topping Q1, Q2 and Q3. It was the first pole position of the 2026 season for both the Dutchman and Red Bull Racing.
Hamilton starts second and gives Ferrari a genuine opportunity to challenge for victory on the run to Turn 1. He has extensive experience at Sepang and produced a strong final qualifying lap as the Scuderia improved considerably from FP3.
Hadjar qualified third for Red Bull Racing, but his five place penalty drops him to eighth on the starting grid. That promotes Antonelli to third, Leclerc to fourth and Lando Norris to fifth for McLaren.
Oscar Piastri moves to sixth, while George Russell starts seventh after a disappointing qualifying session for the Azerbaijan GP winner. Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto complete the top 10 behind the penalised Hadjar.
Bahrain GP starting grid top 10
| Pos | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 7 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 10 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi |
The penalties have created one of the most interesting grids of the season, with Verstappen leading a front group featuring Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren. Only 0.632 seconds separated pole from seventh in qualifying, suggesting the race could be considerably closer than the starting order initially appears.
Grid penalties change the Sepang starting order
Hadjar is the highest placed driver affected by a penalty after qualifying third but taking a fifth place grid drop for exceeding his permitted internal combustion engine allocation. He therefore starts eighth despite being one of the fastest drivers throughout the Sepang weekend.
Franco Colapinto has accumulated 15 places of penalties, combining a sanction carried over from his Azerbaijan collision with another penalty for taking additional power unit components. Arvid Lindblad has a 30 place penalty after exceeding several elements of his permitted power unit allocation.
The penalties push Colapinto and Lindblad to the final row of the grid. They also promote several drivers in the midfield and leave Hadjar facing a recovery race despite having genuine podium pace.
Bahrain GP TV guide: How to watch F1 today
The Bahrain GP in Malaysia will be shown live by Formula 1 broadcasters around the world. UK viewers can watch the race on Sky Sports F1 and NOW, while Apple TV is the exclusive Formula 1 broadcaster in the United States for 2026.
Major viewing options include:
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports F1 and NOW
- United States: Apple TV
- Australia: Fox Sports / Kayo
- International: F1 TV Pro in supported territories
The race begins at 08:00 BST in the UK and 03:00 ET in the United States. Live timing is also available through Formula 1’s official website and app throughout the Grand Prix.
Verstappen has his best chance yet of a 2026 victory
Verstappen has repeatedly threatened to win during the opening 15 rounds but arrives on Sunday still searching for his first victory of the season. Pole position at Sepang gives him the strongest opportunity yet to end that wait.
The Red Bull Racing driver has looked competitive since the opening practice session and topped FP1 before staying near the front through the remainder of the weekend. His qualifying performance confirmed that the car has genuine pace rather than relying solely on favourable practice conditions.
Sepang also carries positive memories for Verstappen, who won the final Malaysian GP held here in 2017. He passed Hamilton on his way to victory that afternoon, and the same two drivers now share the front row nine years later.
The bigger challenge will be managing the tyres over a full race distance. Red Bull Racing have shown strong outright speed, but high degradation means Verstappen cannot simply approach the afternoon as an extended qualifying session.
Hamilton gives Ferrari a major victory opportunity
Hamilton starts alongside Verstappen after setting a 1:35.428 in Q3. The seven time world champion came closer than anyone to challenging the pole lap and gives Ferrari a major strategic opportunity with Leclerc starting fourth.
That two car presence could become important if tyre degradation forces drivers into two or even three pit stops. Ferrari can split strategies between Hamilton and Leclerc, potentially putting pressure on Red Bull Racing from different directions.
Hamilton also has extensive experience around Sepang and previously won here in 2014. He entered the weekend third in the championship and needs a major points swing if he is to reduce the gap to Antonelli during the closing phase of the season.
Leclerc could be just as dangerous from fourth after showing strong pace during Friday practice. The Monegasque was fastest in FP2 and is the only driver to have gathered meaningful running on the hard tyre during the weekend, which could become valuable strategically.
Antonelli starts third after difficult qualifying
Antonelli topped FP3 and looked like a genuine pole contender before qualifying, but his afternoon proved more complicated. A deleted Q2 lap forced him to use an additional set of tyres, leaving only one fresh set available for Q3.
He eventually qualified fourth before Hadjar’s penalty promoted him onto the second row. That still puts the championship leader in a strong position to protect or potentially increase his advantage over Russell.
The Italian begins the race with 302 points, 66 ahead of his teammate after losing ground in Azerbaijan. Starting four places ahead of Russell gives him another opportunity to undo some of the damage from Baku.
Race pace may be the bigger question for Mercedes after the team struggled with tyre temperatures during Friday’s longer runs. If those problems continue, Antonelli may need to prioritise tyre management rather than attacking Verstappen and Hamilton immediately.
Russell faces a difficult race from seventh
Russell arrived in Malaysia with significant momentum after winning from pole in Azerbaijan and reducing Antonelli’s championship advantage. Qualifying at Sepang did not continue that trend, with the Briton managing only eighth before Hadjar’s penalty promoted him to seventh.
That leaves Russell behind both McLaren drivers and four places behind his teammate. He needs another strong result to prevent the 66 point championship deficit from beginning to grow again.
Friday’s race simulations also highlighted concerns for Mercedes, although the team improved the car considerably before FP3. The question now is whether those changes have also improved tyre life over the much longer demands of Sunday’s race.
Sepang offers genuine passing opportunities, so seventh is far from disastrous. Russell nevertheless needs to move through the field quickly enough to avoid losing touch with Antonelli at the front.
McLaren have two cars in the strategic fight
Norris starts fifth with Piastri directly behind him in sixth, giving McLaren another opportunity to use two cars strategically. Both drivers struggled for ultimate qualifying pace but appeared more competitive during longer runs.
That could become particularly important if tyre degradation is as severe as expected. Drivers who can extend their stints without losing significant lap time may gain positions even if their outright speed is slightly weaker.
Norris sits fourth in the Drivers’ Championship and remains within range of Hamilton and Leclerc in the fight behind the two Mercedes drivers. A podium at Sepang would strengthen his position after a difficult Azerbaijan weekend.
Piastri has endured a more challenging second half of the season but has shown enough race pace to remain a threat from sixth. With strategy likely to play an unusually large role, starting directly behind his teammate gives McLaren considerable flexibility.
Hadjar must recover after another impressive qualifying
Hadjar was one of the standout performers in qualifying, taking third and finishing only 0.130 seconds behind Hamilton. His grid penalty means that performance will not be fully reflected when the lights go out.
The Red Bull Racing driver starts eighth, directly behind Russell, but has demonstrated enough pace to make a recovery realistic. He finished on the podium last time out in Azerbaijan and again looks capable of fighting near the front.
Passing at Sepang is easier than at many circuits because of the long straights and heavy braking zones. The bigger problem for Hadjar may be spending too much time in traffic and damaging his tyres before he reaches the leading group.
Bahrain GP weather forecast
Race day at Sepang is expected to be hot, humid and potentially unsettled. Temperatures should reach around 31C, with the heat index making conditions feel closer to 35C.
There is a 30% chance of rain, which leaves open the possibility of an afternoon shower affecting the Grand Prix. Track temperatures could reach approximately 46C if the circuit remains dry and receives sustained sunshine.
Sepang’s tropical climate makes the percentage alone relatively unimportant because heavy showers can develop extremely quickly. Teams will need to remain prepared for a sudden switch from slicks to intermediates even if the race begins in completely dry conditions.
Humidity will also create one of the toughest physical tests of the season for the drivers. Cockpit temperatures, dehydration and concentration become increasingly important as the race progresses through 56 demanding laps.
Tyre strategy could decide the Bahrain GP
Tyre degradation has been one of the defining stories of the weekend, with teams reporting some of the highest wear rates seen during the 2026 season. That makes a simple one stop race unlikely unless conditions change dramatically.
A two stop strategy appears the more conventional approach, while some teams believe a three stop race could become viable if degradation proves particularly severe. The large performance difference between fresh and worn tyres means stopping more frequently may be faster despite the additional pit lane time.
The possibility of rain adds another complication because teams will not want to commit too aggressively to a dry strategy if showers are approaching. A Safety Car at the right moment could also completely transform the optimal pit stop sequence.
Drivers will therefore need to manage rather than simply maximise their pace from the opening laps. Anyone who overheats the tyres early in a stint could find themselves forced into an additional stop.
What to watch during the F1 race today
The immediate question is whether Verstappen can convert his first pole of the season into his first victory. Hamilton has enough pace to attack from the front row, while Antonelli and Leclerc are close enough to capitalise if the leaders begin fighting.
Other key storylines include:
- Whether Verstappen can finally win in 2026
- If Hamilton can challenge into Turn 1
- Whether Antonelli extends his championship lead
- How Leclerc uses his hard tyre knowledge
- Whether Norris and Piastri can exploit strategy
- How quickly Russell recovers from seventh
- Whether Hadjar can fight back from his penalty
- How severe tyre degradation becomes
- Whether teams commit to two or three stops
- If tropical rain changes the race completely
The start could immediately alter the strategic picture because Sepang’s wide opening complex allows different lines through the first two corners. Verstappen cannot afford a poor launch with Hamilton, Antonelli and Leclerc all positioned directly behind.
Why Sepang could produce an unpredictable race
The Sepang International Circuit combines several characteristics that naturally create strategic uncertainty. Its long straights encourage overtaking, while the fast corners place heavy energy through the tyres and make following another car difficult in parts of the lap.
The 5.543 km circuit is also unusually wide, allowing drivers to experiment with different lines through several corners. That creates overtaking possibilities beyond the obvious attacks at the end of the two main straights.
Heat makes the challenge more complicated because tyre temperatures can rise rapidly when a driver follows another car closely. Someone with greater outright pace may therefore need to decide between attacking immediately and preserving the tyres for later in the stint.
Rain remains the wild card. Sepang has produced some of Formula 1’s most dramatic wet races in the past, and even a short tropical downpour could turn today’s carefully prepared strategies upside down.
Formula 1 returns to Sepang after nine years
Today’s race is the first Formula 1 Grand Prix at Sepang since 2017. The circuit originally joined the championship in 1999 and became one of the calendar’s most recognisable venues before Malaysia disappeared from the schedule after the 2017 race.
The unusual 2026 return came after the original Bahrain race at Sakhir could not go ahead earlier in the season. Sepang was selected as the replacement venue, while the event retained the official Bahrain Grand Prix name.
That creates the unusual sight of the Bahrain GP taking place thousands of kilometres from Bahrain. It also gives Formula 1 fans another chance to see modern machinery around a circuit widely regarded as one of Hermann Tilke’s strongest designs.
Verstappen won when Formula 1 last raced here, while Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are among the other current drivers who have previously won at Sepang. Much of the grid, however, will experience a Malaysian Grand Prix race for the first time today.
Championship context before the Bahrain GP
Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship with 302 points, while Russell is second on 236 following his victory in Azerbaijan. Hamilton sits third on 199, ahead of Norris on 186, Leclerc on 179 and Verstappen on 163.
The starting grid therefore favours Antonelli over his closest championship rival. He begins third while Russell starts seventh, creating an opportunity to rebuild some of the lead he surrendered in Baku.
Hamilton also has the chance to make significant progress from the front row, although his 103 point deficit to Antonelli means he needs victories combined with difficult races for the championship leader. Verstappen’s pole provides another complication because taking maximum points away from the title contenders could influence the battle even if his own championship hopes remain remote.
Mercedes retain a commanding advantage in the Constructors’ Championship, but the race at Sepang looks far less predictable than many of their dominant weekends earlier in the season. Red Bull Racing, Ferrari and McLaren have all shown enough speed to challenge today.
F1 Today FAQs: Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026
The Bahrain GP in Malaysia starts at 15:00 local time, which is 08:00 in the UK, 03:00 ET and 00:00 PT. The race takes place on Sunday, October 4.
Max Verstappen starts from pole for Red Bull Racing after setting a 1:35.130 in qualifying. It is his first pole position of the 2026 season.
Max Verstappen starts first alongside Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver qualified 0.298 seconds behind pole.
Kimi Antonelli starts third for Mercedes after qualifying fourth. He gains one position because of Isack Hadjar’s grid penalty.
George Russell starts seventh for Mercedes. The Azerbaijan GP winner qualified eighth before gaining one position through Hadjar’s penalty.
Isack Hadjar qualified third but has a five place grid penalty for taking an additional internal combustion engine. He therefore drops to eighth for the start.
The race is scheduled for 56 laps of the 5.543 km Sepang International Circuit. The total race distance is just over 310 km.
Sunday is expected to be hot and humid with temperatures reaching around 31C. There is a 30% chance of rain, while track temperatures could reach approximately 46C.
High degradation means a two stop strategy is expected to be the most conventional option. A three stop race could also become competitive depending on tyre wear, Safety Cars and weather.
Kimi Antonelli leads the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 302 points, 66 ahead of George Russell. Lewis Hamilton is third with 199 points.
