Start of the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Start of the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as it happened

Follow all the action from the 2026 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

KEY MOMENTS

  • Max Verstappen takes victory in a chaotic Bahrain GP in Malaysia
  • George Russell is out after a technical issue on lap 50
  • Heavily-delayed Bahrain GP contested over 55 laps

The 2026 Formula 1 season continues with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, which marks the 16th round of the campaign. 

This weekend marks F1's first visit to the Sepang International Circuit since the last Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017. 

However, this will not be officially counted as a Malaysian Grand Prix, as the event is being run and paid for by the Bahrain Grand Prix. As such, the event is being called the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. 

Despite the tropical setting, the Bahrain organisers have flown in around 500 marshals from the country, while much of the branding around the circuit reflects that of the Sakhir track. 

The event has been moved to Malaysia this year due to the ongoing war in Iran. The Bahrain Grand Prix had originally been due to run in April back-to-back with Saudi Arabia. 

Andrea Kimi Antonelli comes into the Bahrain Grand Prix leading the championship still, though a fifth-place finish after a crash in qualifying last time out at Baku has seen his advantage reduced to 66 points by Mercedes team-mate George Russell. 

But Mercedes has endured a tricky weekend so far in Malaysia, despite bringing its long-awaited upgrade package. 

The Malaysian Grand Prix has been declared a heat hazard, while there is a risk of thundery showers hitting the Sepang track for today's 56-lap race. 

Max Verstappen claimed his and Red Bull's first pole position of the season, which he is looking to convert into his first victory since last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

The four-time world champion has his great F1 title rival Lewis Hamilton alongside him on the front row for Ferrari. 

2026 Bahrain Grand Prix schedule

Race start - 8am UK time 

04 Oct 2026
10:46

After 38 Laps of racing, here is the top ten:

  1. Max Verstappen
  2. Kimi Antonelli
  3. George Russell
  4. Isack Hadjar
  5. Lewis Hamilton
  6. Charles Leclerc
  7. Oscar Piastri
  8. Lando Norris
  9. Liam Lawson
  10. Arvid Lindblad
10:42

Max Verstappen's pace at the front continues to be the best throughout the field, as he is by far quicker than Antonelli and has a lead of over 10 seconds

10:39

The McLarens have both pitted and dropped back to eighth and ninth place, with Piastri leading Norris

10:37

It is used soft tyres for Verstappen and Antonelli, who are both back out in first and second place

10:36

Max Verstappen has pitted from the lead, and Kimi Antonelli has followed him down pit lane

10:34

Lewis Hamilton has finally made his first pit stop and is out on track with medium tyres

10:33

Liam Lawson has pitted from seventh place and is back out on track with a new set of hard tyres in 12th place

10:31

Back at the front, Verstappen now has a lead of 9 seconds over Antonelli, who is happily holding off Russell but is not making any inroads to the Red Bull at the front

10:29

Charles Leclerc and Arvid Lindblad have both pitted, the Ferrari is back out on a set of softs, and the Racing Bulls is on a new set of hards

10:28

We are now over half the race distance, and it is still Verstappen leading from Antonelli and Russell, with Hadjar and Hamilton in fourth and fifth

10:24

Despite the chance of rain, Pierre Gasly and Oliver Bearman have pitted for new hard tyres

10:22
Rain...

The weather may be about to change again as rain is back on the weather radar!

10:19

Charles Leclerc is inside the top ten as he passed Nico Hulkenberg for tenth place

10:16
10-Second Time Penalty

Gabriel Bortoleto has been given a 10-second time penalty for a collision with Carlos Sainz

10:15

Antonelli has taken second place from Russell, and will now begin the charge after Verstappen

10:15

Lewis Hamilton is one to watch here as he is now up to sixth place, but he still has not pitted and is on the same soft tyres that he started the race with

10:13

Antonelli has been on the radio saying he is faster than his teammate, who is currently half a second ahead of him

10:12

After 19 laps of racing, the drivers have now settled into a rhythm and a clearer order, as Max Verstappen is still leading the two Mercedes drivers

10:09

Max Verstappen is now having the race he would have wanted, as he is over two seconds ahead of Russell after 17 laps

10:07

Gabriel Bortoleto pitted for a front wing change, and is at the back of the field with new hard tyres

10:06

Lewis Hamilton is now in the top ten as the British driver has moved into ninth place

10:06

After 15 laps, here are the top 10:

  1. Max Verstappen
  2. George Russell
  3. Kimi Antonelli
  4. Isack Hadjar
  5. Liam Lawson
  6. Esteban Ocon
  7. Arvid Lindblad
  8. Oscar Piastri
  9. Gabriel Bortoleto
  10. Nico Hulkenberg
10:01
A change at the front

Max Verstappen has taken the lead from Antonelli, and Russell has now moved into second, relegating his teammate back to third!

10:00
Safety Car Ending

The Safety Car will be in at the end of this lap, and we will be back underway in green flag conditions

09:58

We now have a mixture of soft, medium, and hard tyres throughout the field

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