The Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 is Round 16 of the FIA Formula One World Championship, and this year it doesn’t take place in Bahrain at all. Formula 1’s Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix runs at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, from Friday October 2 to Sunday October 4. So the title, the sponsor, and the history all stay Bahraini. Only the location changes.
That switch makes 2026 one of the strangest weekends on the calendar. Sepang hasn’t hosted a Formula 1 race since 2017, when Max Verstappen took the win in what was then the Malaysian Grand Prix. Now the circuit returns for its 20th F1 event overall, carrying a completely different race’s name for the very first time.
WHY IS THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX IN MALAYSIA
The Bahrain Grand Prix moved to Malaysia because the original Sakhir race, planned for April 2026, was cancelled due to the Middle East conflict tied to the Iran war.
Bahrain, Malaysia, and F1’s own governing bodies then agreed on a relocation to Sepang, keeping the Bahrain name and Gulf Air title sponsorship intact even though the race itself runs on Malaysian soil.
Because of this, Sunday’s race becomes the 22nd Bahrain Grand Prix in Formula 1 history, even though it’s only the 20th F1 event ever held at Sepang itself.
Two separate histories collide in one weekend, which is exactly why this race carries so much extra curiosity heading into October.
WHERE IS THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX HELD
The Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 takes place at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia, roughly 30 to 60 km south of Kuala Lumpur and close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Hermann Tilke designed the permanent facility, which opened in 1999 and previously hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix every year from then until 2017.
WHEN IS THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2026
The Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 runs from Friday October 2 to Sunday October 4. Race day itself falls on Sunday October 4, following the traditional three-day format with no sprint race involved this weekend.
WHAT TIME DOES THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX START
The Bahrain Grand Prix starts at 3:00 PM local time in Malaysia on Sunday October 4. For UK viewers, that’s 8:00 AM BST, an early start given the seven hour gap between the two countries. Local start times for key regions are listed below.
The race covers 56 laps and a total distance of 310.398 km. Since Sepang sits right on the equator, Singapore and Malaysia share the exact same 3:00 PM start time this weekend.
WHAT TIME IS THE F1 RACE TODAY
If you’re asking what time the F1 race is today, the Bahrain Grand Prix goes green at 3:00 PM Malaysia time on Sunday October 4.
That’s the only Grand Prix on the calendar this weekend, so whichever region you’re in, the times in the table above are the ones that matter right now.
Qualifying runs the day before, Saturday October 3, at 4:00 PM Malaysia time, which lands at 9:00 AM ET in the US and 3:00 AM ET for the very early risers checking overnight.
F1 START TIME THIS WEEKEND
The F1 start time for Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix is 3:00 PM MYT, 8:00 AM BST, 3:00 AM ET, and 9:00 AM SAST. Free Practice 1 opens the weekend Friday at 12:30 PM MYT, and every session this weekend runs to the schedule confirmed in the table below.
BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2026 RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 follows the standard three-day format at Sepang, with three practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday. All times below are local Malaysia time (MYT) and UK time (BST).
The Drivers’ Parade runs around 1:00 PM local time, with the National Anthem following shortly before lights out on Sunday.
HOW TO WATCH THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2026
Live coverage of the Bahrain Grand Prix varies by region, and build-up typically starts 60 to 90 minutes before each session.
UK and Ireland Viewers
Sky Sports F1 carries every session live, with build-up starting from around 6:30 AM BST ahead of the 8:00 AM lights out. Channel 4 airs free highlights after the chequered flag, and NOW offers a streaming option for non-subscribers.
US Viewers
Apple TV carries every session live through its dedicated F1 channel, giving American viewers full access to the entire weekend.
Canada
TSN broadcasts in English and RDS in French, with F1 TV also available for subscribers wanting full session access.
Australia
Fox Sports and Kayo Sports carry live coverage in Australia. Sydney fans watch from 5:00 PM AEST on Sunday.
India, Pakistan, Middle East, and Singapore
F1 TV covers most sessions directly for these regions, alongside local broadcasters where available. BBC Radio 5 Live also offers a commentary option for UK listeners who prefer audio coverage.
WHAT IS THE SEPANG CIRCUIT LIKE
Sepang runs clockwise across 15 turns, mixing two long straights, both around 900 to 920 metres, with high-speed sweeps, medium-speed S-bends, and tight hairpins.
That combination makes the circuit aerodynamically demanding, since teams need a setup that works both down the straights and through the technical middle sector.
Turn 1’s S-complex has produced strong overtaking for years, feeding directly off the main straight into a double-apex sequence wide enough for real side-by-side racing.
Even so, the track’s biggest challenge often isn’t the layout itself. It’s the tropical heat and humidity that turn every stint into a physical test as much as a technical one.
SEPANG WEATHER FOR THE 2026 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
October in Sepang brings daytime highs around 31 to 32°C, with humidity between 75 and 81 percent, pushing the heat index as high as 39 to 43°C.
Track temperatures can climb past 60°C under direct sun, a real challenge for the 2026 cars’ battery and heat management systems.
Rain remains the bigger threat though. October sits inside Malaysia’s rainy season, with 20 to 26 rainy days possible across the month and afternoon shower risk often above 70 percent. Sepang has a long history of dramatic, storm-affected races, so don’t be surprised if Sunday’s weather becomes its own storyline.
KEY STORYLINES FOR THE 2026 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
Kimi Antonelli arrives at Sepang leading the championship with 302 points, a 66 point cushion over teammate George Russell on 236. Lewis Hamilton sits third for Ferrari on 199, just ahead of Lando Norris on 186 and Charles Leclerc on 179. Max Verstappen rounds out the top six on 163 points for Red Bull.
Sepang’s return after nine years off the calendar adds a genuine unknown into that fight. None of the current cars have ever turned a competitive lap here, so tropical heat, sudden rain, and an unfamiliar layout could all reshuffle the order in ways recent races haven’t.
Mercedes leads the constructors’ standings on 538 points, with Ferrari second on 378, McLaren third on 306, and Red Bull fourth on 263.
SEPANG LAP RECORD AND RACE HISTORY
Sepang’s outright pole record belongs to Lewis Hamilton, a 1:30.076 set in 2017. The official race lap record stands at 1:34.080, set by Sebastian Vettel that same year.
Vettel also holds the most wins at the circuit with four, while Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Hamilton have all won here too across the Malaysian Grand Prix’s 1999 to 2017 run.
That history includes some of the sport’s more chaotic afternoons, driven largely by the tropical storms that regularly rolled through mid-race. Verstappen’s 2017 win, the circuit’s most recent before this year, closed out that era in fittingly dramatic fashion.
GETTING TO THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX AT SEPANG
The circuit sits close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, making it one of the more accessible venues. Most visitors base themselves in Kuala Lumpur itself. Roughly 30 to 60 km north of the circuit, travel down on race day rather than staying locally in Sepang.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What time is the F1 race today?
The Bahrain Grand Prix runs Sunday October 4 at 3:00 PM Malaysia time, 8:00 AM UK time, 3:00 AM US Eastern time, and 9:00 AM South Africa time.
What time does F1 start today?
F1 sessions this weekend start with Free Practice 1 on Friday at 12:30 PM Malaysia time. The race itself starts Sunday at 3:00 PM Malaysia time, 8:00 AM BST.
What time is F1 qualifying today?
Qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix runs Saturday October 3 at 4:00 PM Malaysia time, which is 9:00 AM US Eastern time and 9:00 AM UK time.
What time is F1 on TV today?
In the UK, Sky Sports F1 carries every session live, with race day coverage starting around 6:30 AM BST ahead of the 8:00 AM lights out. In the US, Apple TV carries the full weekend through its dedicated F1 channel.
When is the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026?
The Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 runs from Friday October 2 to Sunday October 4 at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
Why is the Bahrain GP in Malaysia?
The original Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir was cancelled due to the Middle East conflict tied to the Iran war. Bahrain, Malaysia, and F1’s governing bodies agreed to relocate the race to Sepang while keeping the Bahrain name and Gulf Air sponsorship.
How many laps is the Bahrain Grand Prix?
The Bahrain Grand Prix runs 56 laps of the 5.543 km Sepang International Circuit, covering a total race distance of 310.398 km.
Who won the last F1 race at Sepang?
Max Verstappen won the last Formula 1 race held at Sepang, the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, the circuit’s most recent appearance on the calendar before this year’s return.
