05:35
Franco Colapinto has topped the session in the early minutes, as he set a 1:39.417 on a set of soft tyres, ahead of Sergio Perez, who was 1.835 seconds slower.
Kimi Antonelli
© XPB Images
F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia Qualifying as it happened
Relive all the action from Saturday at the 2026 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
KEY MOMENTS
- Max Verstappen claims first pole of 2026
- Lewis Hamilton joins great F1 rival on front row
- Mercedes struggles despite upgrade
The 2026 Formula 1 season continues this weekend 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.
Mercedes has an updated car at Sepang, as it looks to rebuild its dominant advantage from earlier in the season.
Ferrari has attempted to quieten the noise around the team in the last week surrounding the future of Fred Vasseur, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc publicly backing their team boss ahead of the event at Sepang.
This weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix has been declared a heat hazard, while air quality could be an issue due to haze in the region right now.
On top of that, F1's 2026 cars could face their first proper wet weather test at Sepang, with a threat of storms for both Saturday and Sunday.
Max Verstappen was the winner on F1's last visit to Sepang in 2017. The Red Bull driver made an encouraging start to the weekend by setting the pace in opening practice on Friday, before Leclerc rounded out the day quickest for Ferrari.
2026 Bahrain Grand Prix Saturday schedule
FP3 - 5:30am BST - 6:30am BST
Qualifying - 9am BST - 10am BST
05:34
It was a short-lived run from Lawson as he is back in the pits after completing an install lap on a set of soft tyres.
05:31
There has not been a huge rush to get out on track with Sergio Perez, Franco Colapinto, and Liam Lawson being the first three drivers on track.
05:30
Free Practice 3 is underway
The green flags are out, and the final F1 Practice of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia is underway!
05:24
Five minute warning
There are five minutes to go until Free Practice 3 gets underway...
05:21
Lewis Hamilton hit with another warning
Once again, Lewis Hamilton was warned by the stewards after an incident in FP2
Lewis Hamilton warned over Bahrain GP incident as Ferrari hit with fine
Lewis Hamilton impeded Gabriel Bortoleto in FP2
05:16
15 minutes to go
We are now 15 minutes away from the final Free Practice session of the weekend ahead of Qualifying.
05:09
The biggest challenge of racing at Sepang
Since the teams have not raced in Malaysia since 2017, there is one massive challenge that they will have to overcome to be successful.
The biggest challenge facing F1 teams at Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Hamilton's visibility was impacted by a damaged mirror
05:00
George Russell's thoughts on Mercedes upgrades
Mercedes arrived at the Sepang International Circuit with new upgrades, and George Russell gave his thoughts on the new additions after Friday Practice.
George Russell gives first verdict on Mercedes’ big F1 upgrade after Bahrain GP debut
Mercedes has brought a major car upgrade to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
04:50
It is currently dry at the Sepang International Circuit, so after the threat of rain in FP2, it appears all three Practice sessions will be dry.
04:38
FP1 & FP2 Results:
On Friday, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in FP1 & FP2.
Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia: Full Friday practice results
Mercedes has brought a total of seven updates
04:32
FP3 is an hour away
Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of the Saturday F1 sessions from the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
There is just under an hour until FP3 gets underway at the Sepang International Circuit.