Verstappen vs Hamilton, the return to Sepang and more: What to expect in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
For the first time since 2017, Formula One returns to the Sepang International Circuit for the Bahrain Grand Prix hosted in Malaysia, a track that has provided countless historic moments in the sport and plenty of intense racing action across the years of its presence on the calendar.
Qualifying at the venue saw Max Verstappen storm to his first pole of this season, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and teammate Isack Hadjar. But with an internal combustion engine (ICE) penalty for Hadjar who will now start from eighth on the grid, Kimi Antonelli has been promoted to the second row, giving us a tantalising top three to keep our eyes on at the start.
From old rivals meeting again to Mercedes’ apparently split performance, here are five things to watch for in this edition of the Bahrain Grand Prix, hosted by one of F1’s most interesting tracks.
Racing action at Sepang for the first time since 2017
Sepang is one of those circuits that’s an instant F1 classic for drivers and fans alike. From its sweeping corners to distinct long straights, the Hermann Tilke design has provided nail-biting racing action during its tenure on the calendar.
Only 10 drivers on the grid of 22 have driven here previously, but even so, getting quickly reacquainted with the circuit given the new generation of cars will be pivotal. But already, qualifying has shown that experience doesn’t account for much, with Hadjar cruising to third place and Gabriel Bortoleto’s valiant Q3 effort.
The demanding circuit is also known for its unpredictable weather and hot humidity, making tyre management key. Tyre strategy will no doubt be a big mover during the race, with multiple stops expected.
Verstappen vs Hamilton
What year is it? Well, it’s 2026 and we have two of F1’s closest rivals lining up on the front row at a storied track — Lap 1, Turn 1 will be unmissable.
This is the first time Verstappen and Hamilton will share the top two starting positions since the infamous 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and if that occasion is anything to go by, expect closely-matched battles and wheel-to-wheel action between the two titans of the sport.
Though a championship isn’t on the line for either driver, the stakes are still considerable, with Verstappen chasing a first win of the season and first win with the Red Bull Ford engine and Hamilton pursuing a second win with Ferrari after his first in Barcelona earlier this year.
The last time we raced at Sepang, Hamilton was on pole with Verstappen starting right behind him, the Dutchman winning that race on pace while Hamilton settled for second. Round two between the pair at Sepang sees Verstappen on pole and Hamilton behind him.
Who will come out on top this time, or will Antonelli in third make their battle for the win void?
Will Mercedes bounce back?
For the first time since Hungary, Mercedes have failed to place a car on the front row.
On paper, Mercedes were expecting to continue their season-long dominance at this track as well, especially given the upgrades they’ve brought this weekend. But qualifying painted a different picture, as both Antonelli and George Russell struggled for pace and were hindered by having more drag.
While Antonelli placed fourth, Russell could only manage eighth, both drivers bumped up a place after Hadjar’s grid drop.
While Mercedes have looked much stronger in the race trim even when qualifying hasn’t gone as planned, it’ll still be a less straight-forward fight to the top for the Silver Arrows this time.
Hadjar on damage limitation
Hadjar’s return to F1 after sitting out three rounds with a wrist injury has been nothing short of impressive. Immediately on the pace in Baku, his first weekend back, Hadjar took his second podium of the season in style.
The Frenchman carried that momentum into this weekend too, securing third in qualifying. But taking a fresh ICE means that Hadjar will start this race from eighth, and will have his sights set on returning to the top three.
Red Bull’s race pace has looked promising from practice, so expect the young Red Bull driver to come roaring back and providing plenty of overtaking action across the opening laps.
The midfield battles continue
A recurring point of excitement each week has been the closely-matched midfield battles. While Alpine’s double exit in Baku has given Racing Bulls some breathing room, the battle will continue this round with 15 between the two.
Pierre Gasly starts in ninth, with Liam Lawson in 11th, while their teammates occupy the back of the grid after Franco Colapinto’s penalty for causing a collision last round and Arvid Lindblad takes a whopping 30-place penalty for additional power unit components.
Gasly and Lawson are split by Audi’s Bortoleto, who will also be eager to maximise points on account of hoping to catch up to Haas in the standings.
All in all, we have a number of interesting battles on the cards, and Sepang will be sure to provide another unforgettable race, as always.
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