09:16
In case you have missed it, the start of the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia has been delayed due to weather conditions at the Sepang International Circuit
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
09:34
Cars are on track!
Cars are leaving the pits! With a mixture of intermediates and slick tyres!
09:23
Race Start Update
The race will start at 16:33 Local Time (9:33am UK Time)
09:05
FIA Update
The original starting grid will be used when the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia gets underway.
09:03
We are an hour past when the race should have started, and so far, we have completed a formation lap!
It is going well at the Sepang International Circuit!
08:59
FIA Update
After the chaos that was the first formation lap, a new update has been released by the FIA regarding the start of the race.
The latest update reads, "In all likelihood, the original grid order will be used to start the race."
08:49
Kimi Antonelli has confirmed on the radio that the track is "drying crazily quick"
08:47
After all the issues during the formation lap, the safety car has somehow ended up in the middle of the pack as the field comes back down pit lane!
08:46
Starting Procedure Suspended
Race Control has suspended the Starting Procedure
08:45
Lewis Hamilton briefly stopped
Lewis Hamilton had stopped on the back straight, but is moving again
08:45
Issues for Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is going slowly on the formation lap and has dropped back through the field...
08:43
Liam Lawson is still on the grid, and did not get away with the rest of the field
08:43
Isack Hadjar is in the gravel after a mistake at Turn 3 on the first formation lap
08:42
Formation Lap(s) are underway
The cars are leaving the grid behind the safety car for the formation laps
08:37
Start Condition Update
There are still hopes of a standing start despite the conditions, but the Formation Lap will be behind the safety car.
The latest statement reads, "Current thinking of Race Control is to do a minimum of 2 laps behind safety car before a standing start. This is subject to change based on feedback from drivers."
08:31
10 Minute Signal
The 10-minute signal has been given by the FIA, the formation lap will get underway at 15:40 Local Time (8:40 UK Time)
08:28
Further FIA Update
The latest from the FIA regarding the delayed start at the Bahrain GP in Malaysia: "Only a couple of corners are still an issue at the moment, the marshals are focusing their work on these areas."
08:17
FIA Update
The FIA has released another statement and has confirmed that these conditions are 'not suitable to start the race.
"Medical car is reporting a a signifiant amount of standing water around the track. Current conditions are not suitable to start the race."
08:05
During the delay, the FIA have said, "Rain intensity have been steady for the last 10 mins and no improvement is forecasted for the next 5/10 mins.
"Medical car going on track shortly to report on track conditions."
08:04
It is expected that the conditions will not improve for at least five to ten minutes
08:00
Reminder of the Starting Grid
With the delayed start, now seems like the perfect time to remind you of the full starting grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Full starting grid after three penalties
The top three qualifiers at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
07:56
The rain continues to fall at the Sepang International Circuit; at this moment, it does not show any sign of letting up
07:49
Before the national anthem, Max Verstappen spoke to Sky Sports about the weather conditions and said, 'There are new cells popping up, so it is a big deal for everyone'
07:45
Delayed Start
The start of the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia has been delayed due to the weather conditions
07:38
Rain in Malaysia
What it looked like at the Sepang International Circuit when the pit lane opened