Formula One Preview: Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Circuit guide
It is fair to say no previous Bahrain Grand Prix has been like this one.
Since the event’s introduction to the calendar in 2004, only once – in the Covid-affected 2020 season – has the race not taken place in March or April. However, the unusual timing of the rescheduled event this week is nothing compared to its location.
F1 has already been to Sakhir once this year for two weeks of pre-season testing, but due to the conflict in the Middle East, it did not feature a return for April’s planned Grand Prix.
As such, stepping in for the first time in nine years is the popular Sepang International Circuit south of Kuala Lumpur, hosting its 20th Grand Prix event, and the first since 2017. The 3.4 mi (5.5 km) track made its F1 bow in 1999 as the first original work by architect Hermann Tilke and was a fan favourite before its removal from the calendar almost a decade ago.
High hosting costs and poor attendance were reasons for the decision at the time, but no such fears surround this year’s event, with the Bahraini government providing the majority of funding and retaining all race proceeds.
The circuit itself is characterised by its sweeping high-speed corners, punctuated by long straights and heavy braking zones.
The tight switchbacks of Turns 1 and 2 provide ample drama which often continues through Turns 3 and 4, with the hairpin of Turn 9 also providing an overtaking opportunity.
The sweeping Turns 5 and 6 are another highlight, while the regular undulation changes around the circuit further add to Sepang’s character.
The lap begins and ends with a pair of long straights, each of just under a kilometre in length, that offer some respite for the drivers, who are otherwise generally steering in one direction or the other.
Weekend format
Sepang had been off the calendar for four years by the time F1 held its first sprint races in 2021, and as a late addition to the calendar in 2026, the circuit will again host a regular Grand Prix weekend.
Weather forecast
The Malaysian Grand Prix was never a stranger to rain. Given its location in south-east Asia, monsoon-like weather is commonplace. The 2009 race, for example, was one of the wettest races in F1 history and was stopped after just 31 of 56 laps.
It is fitting, then, that rain is on the radar for this weekend. The thundery showers scheduled for Wednesday are not expected to persist, but there is a 60-80% chance of rain throughout Friday afternoon, with the two practice sessions likely to be run in inclement weather.
The weather could also affect Qualifying, the race, or both, with a 40% chance of rain between 14:00 MYT (07:00 BST) and 17:00 MYT (10:00 BST) on both Saturday and Sunday.
Major talking points
Change at the top at Ferrari? Rumours have begun to swirl in recent days that Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur may be about to be shown the door.
Speculation over the Frenchman’s position has been fuelled by comments by former Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who recently told The Times that taking over at Ferrari would be “the dream”.
Horner is known to be actively searching for a route back into the F1 paddock, having left Red Bull halfway through the 2025 season.
Ferrari, though, have rallied around their boss, with the team releasing an official statement confirming that chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna maintain their confidence in the Frenchman.
Vasseur signed a new multi-year contract with Ferrari in July 2025, having first assumed his position at the start of 2023.
Aston lock in line-up: It has been a dismal season so far for Aston Martin in a year that promised so much, with the squad essentially becoming a works team for Honda and running an Adrian Newey-designed chassis for the first time.
Perhaps the first real positive for the outfit this season is the announcement that Fernando Alonso has decided to stay on for at least one more year, taking him into his 24th F1 season and beyond his 46th birthday.
The two-time world champion Spaniard has scored just three points all season and suggested he may retire at the end of this campaign, having become a father for the first time earlier this year.
Speaking about his decision to extend his stay with Aston, Alonso said: “I still feel confident in myself that I have something extra. I still feel as fast as anybody. So let's have another go."
Lance Stroll will also continue into his ninth season with the Silverstone-based team.
Norris apologises for Colapinto remarks: World champion Lando Norris sparked controversy with his comments about Franco Colapinto following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Argentine driver collided with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly on the Lap 35 safety car restart, with the Frenchman in turn hitting Norris and taking the McLaren driver out of the race. The trio were running seventh, eighth and ninth at the time.
Colapinto has been handed a five-place grid penalty for this weekend’s race, but the Brit suggested that his mistake warranted a ban and alleged that the Argentine “[doesn’t] deserve to be in Formula One.”
Norris has since apologised to Colapinto for his remarks, saying: “I’ve made mistakes of my own over the years and I know this is very much a part of racing and fighting on the limit.
“Me and Franco came to a good understanding, are still good friends and are both excited to get back to racing this weekend.”
Briatore considering disciplinary measures: While Norris may have reconciled with Colapinto over the Argentine driver’s mistake in Baku, Alpine’s de facto team principal Flavio Briatore is reportedly less prepared to let the incident go.
The Italian was incandescent after the collision, which eliminated both Alpine drivers from the race and denied the team a crucial double points-scoring finish in their fight with Racing Bulls.
Briatore left the pit wall immediately after the crash, and according to some reports had already reached the airport before the race had even finished.
Alpine’s executive advisor condemned the “very poor move for a driver of [Colapinto’s] experience” and said he would take time to “consider what course of action should be taken”.
Ocon lays down marker: One of the big stories from Wednesday’s media day in Baku was the news that Esteban Ocon is preparing for life after Haas beyond the 2026 season.
The Frenchman said he is “definitely a free agent for next year” following a tough season-and-a-half with the American outfit.
On track, the former race winner bounced back from a difficult Qualifying session to record his best finish of the season with eighth place in Saturday’s Grand Prix.
A defiant Ocon said after the race that he is “one of the best drivers out there” as he looks for a new drive in 2027.
Ocon’s departure from Haas has now been made official ahead of the weekend in Sepang, with the Frenchman touted to be eyeing up a move to the World Endurance Championship to race for Toyota’s hypercar outfit.
Past Bahrain (and Malaysian) Grands Prix
The Bahrain Grand Prix at Sakhir has consistently proved to be one of the most entertaining races of the season, so it is a shame not to be heading to the Gulf in 2026, albeit for very legitimate reasons.
The 2014 race is arguably the best that the circuit has ever offered, as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg – just three races into Mercedes’ dominant eight-year spell – romped clear of the field and tore scraps out of each other for lap after lap before the Brit eventually prevailed.
Hamilton was involved in another thriller in 2021, when he tussled for victory with Max Verstappen in the opening race of the season, with a battle that set the tone for the rest of the year.
Charles Leclerc was denied his maiden Grand Prix victory for Ferrari in 2019 after dominating the opening 46 laps at Sakhir, but had to settle for third following an engine issue. The Monégasque made amends in 2022 by claiming the first victory of F1’s ground effect era and fostering early hopes of a Ferrari title challenge.
Oscar Piastri won the most recent Bahrain Grand Prix for McLaren in April 2025.
The Bahrain Grand Prix’s temporary Malaysian home has plenty of history of its own, too.
Sepang was likewise a consistent provider of quality entertainment during its original 19-year stint on the calendar, starting with the very first Malaysian Grand Prix in 1999.
Michael Schumacher returned to the grid for Ferrari having missed the previous seven races with a broken leg, and played rear gunner to teammate and title hopeful Eddie Irvine.
The Northern Irishman originally won the race with Schumacher second, before the pair were disqualified for a technical infringement, which would have delivered the title to McLaren’s Mika Häkkinen on the spot. Both Ferraris were reinstated following an appeal, but the Finn nevertheless claimed the title a fortnight later at Suzuka.
Sepang also played a crucial role in the 2016 World Championship, as Lewis Hamilton retired from the lead with a rare Mercedes power unit failure. Teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg capitalised with a third-placed finish, which was decisive in him winning the championship by five points.
Other notable races at Sepang include the 2009 race, which took place amid rumours that world champion Hamilton was on the verge of quitting the sport. The drama on track proved to be as tasty as it was off it, with the race stopped in the face of torrential rain.
Brawn’s Jenson Button was declared the race winner after just 31 laps as he claimed the second of his six victories in the opening seven races that season.
Sebastian Vettel scored a famous victory for Ferrari in 2015, taking the chequered flag for his first win in red at just the second attempt.
It is Vettel’s 2011 win, though, that became one of the most iconic moments in F1. The race of the iconic “Multi 21” saw the German defy Red Bull team orders to pass Mark Webber for victory.
Drivers to watch
Max Verstappen: The four-time world champion was only a two-time race winner the last time F1 headed to Sepang, picking up his second career victory at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Sixty-nine more wins have followed, with at least one coming in every single season since then – with the exception of 2026. Verstappen fell agonisingly short last weekend in Baku, as George Russell pipped him by less than two tenths of a second in what was F1’s closest finish under green flag conditions since 2002.
With Lewis Hamilton the only other driver in the top 14 of the standings to have been on the grid in 2017, the Dutchman should have a handy advantage over most of his rivals as he goes after that elusive victory.
George Russell: The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was almost certainly the finest weekend of George Russell’s F1 career.
The Brit achieved his first Grand Slam by taking pole, leading every lap and winning the race. It wasn’t just any pole position either, as Russell achieved the biggest margin to P2 in a dry qualifying session in over 20 years.
Only his 0.099-second deficit to Verstappen in the third practice session denied the Mercedes driver a clean sweep of sessions led across the weekend; such was his dominance.
Having now cut his deficit to Kimi Antonelli in the drivers’ standings from 81 to 66 points, Russell will hope to keep applying the pressure at Sepang.
History suggests victory for either Mercedes driver will be a tall order, though, with the Silver Arrows winning just one race in Malaysia – with Hamilton in 2014 – despite the team’s dominance in the mid-to-late 2010s.
Alex Albon: Williams’ British-born Thai driver is the face of F1 in south-east Asia and will be keen for a strong result at Sepang. Albon has raced at the circuit once before during his 2016 F3 campaign, winning the feature race.
Even finishing 10th would be a good return this weekend, though, with Albon failing to score in each of the last nine races and not scoring a point since June’s Monaco Grand Prix.
Session times
Practice 1: Friday 12:30 - 13:30 MYT (05:30 - 06:30 BST)
Practice 2: Friday 16:00 - 17:00 MYT (09:00 - 10:00 BST)
Practice 3: Saturday 12:30 - 13:30 MYT (05:30 - 06:30 BST)
Qualifying: Saturday 16:00 - 17:00 MYT (09:00 - 10:00 BST)
Race: Sunday 15:00 MYT (08:00 BST)
Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
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