For the first time in nearly a decade, F1 returns to Malaysia. Image: XPB Images
Formula 1 returns to Malaysia for the first time in nine years this weekend, although in circumstances unlike anything the sport has seen before.
The Bahrain Grand Prix will be staged at the Sepang International Circuit after its original April date was cancelled due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, with Malaysia later selected to ensure the race could still take place.
It makes this only the fourth time in Formula 1 world championship history that a race has taken place in a different country to the one in its name.
The 5.543km circuit is one of the most demanding on the calendar, combining two long straights with sweeping high-speed corners, heavy braking zones and slower technical sections.
Sunday’s race will run for 56 laps and mark the 20th Formula 1 event held at Sepang, which last appeared on the calendar in 2017.
That race was won by Max Verstappen ahead of Lewis Hamilton, giving the Dutchman just the second victory of his Formula 1 career.
Only 10 drivers on the current grid competed in that race, underlining how much the championship has changed since its last visit to Malaysia.
Hamilton, Verstappen and Fernando Alonso are the only current drivers to have previously won at Sepang, with Alonso particularly successful after claiming three victories with three different teams.
Ferrari has historically been the most successful team at the circuit with seven wins, while Red Bull has taken five.
Mercedes, despite dominating much of Formula 1 during Sepang’s final years on the calendar, has won there only once, with Hamilton taking victory in 2014.
Red Bull’s record is particularly notable heading into this weekend, having won five of the final eight races staged at Sepang.
The team also arrives in strong form after securing its first double podium in more than two years in Azerbaijan, where Verstappen narrowly missed out on victory.
At the front, George Russell heads to Malaysia off the back of arguably the strongest weekend of his Formula 1 career.
Russell claimed his first grand slam in Baku on the way to his third victory of the season, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli could manage only fifth.
The result reduced Antonelli’s advantage over his Mercedes teammate to 66 points with eight rounds remaining.
Russell’s record in the Bahrain Grand Prix itself has been less imposing, with last year’s second place his only podium in the event.
Oscar Piastri was the driver who beat him that day, taking victory for McLaren at Sakhir.
The Australian returns as the defending Bahrain Grand Prix winner but is still searching for his first victory of 2026 and his first podium since Miami.
Piastri again appeared in contention for a top-three finish in Azerbaijan before a late lock-up dropped him out of the podium fight and ultimately outside the points.
This weekend will be the 22nd running of the Bahrain Grand Prix, but the first away from the Bahrain International Circuit.
Ferrari leads the event’s all-time team victory count with seven wins, while Mercedes has six.
Hamilton is the most successful driver in Bahrain Grand Prix history with five victories, while Alonso has three.
With Formula 1 returning to Sepang for the first time since 2017, Russell closing the championship gap, Red Bull returning to a circuit where it has traditionally thrived and Piastri looking to revive his season, the unusual Bahrain Grand Prix setting adds another intriguing layer to the title fight.
When is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit takes place on October 2-4 (AEST).
What time does the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia start?
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia will start at 6pm AEDT on Saturday, September 26. Scroll down for more time zones.
Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia schedule
Friday, 2 October
Session
Duration
Local
AEST
ACST
AWST
NZDT
Formula Trophy Malaysia
First Practice Session
30 minutes
10:15
12:15
11:45
10:15
15:15
FORMULA 1
FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
12:30
14:30
14:00
12:30
17:30
Formula Trophy Malaysia
Second Practice Session
30 minutes
14:00
16:00
15:30
14:00
19:00
FORMULA 1
SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
16:00
18:00
17:30
16:00
21:00
Saturday, 3 October
Formula Trophy Malaysia
Qualifying Session
30 minutes
10:30
12:30
12:00
10:30
15:30
FORMULA 1
THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
12:30
14:30
14:00
12:30
17:30
Formula Trophy Malaysia
Race 1 (27 Mins +1 Lap)
27 minutes
14:15
16:15
15:45
14:15
19:15
FORMULA 1
QUALIFYING SESSION
60 minutes
16:00
18:00
17:30
16:00
21:00
Sunday, 4 October*
Duration
Local
AEDT
AEST
ACDT
ACST
AWST
NZDT
Formula Trophy Malaysia
Second Race (27 Mins +1 Lap)
27 minutes
11:45
14:45
13:45
14:15
13:15
11:45
16:45
FORMULA 1
GRAND PRIX (56 LAPS OR 120 MINS)
120 minutes
15:00
18:00
17:00
17:30
16:30
15:00
20:00
* Daylight saving begins on Sunday morning in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT
What is the weather forecast for Sepang?
It wouldn’t be Malaysia without a hot and wet race weekend, with temperatures reaching around 32 degrees Celsius across the three days and rain likely to remain a threat throughout, including thunderstorms on Friday and Sunday and showers possible on Saturday..
How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix in Australia
The Bahrain Grand Prix will be live on Fox Sports 506. There is no live free-to-air coverage or post-race free-to-air highlights of the event in Australia.
Can I live stream the Bahrain Grand Prix in Australia?
The Bahrain Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Foxtel’s subscription streaming services Foxtel Go and Kayo Sports.
How to watch F1 TV commentary feed
The alternative F1 TV commentary feed is available to Foxtel customers with a set top box. Kayo Sports subscribers can only watch the F1 TV feed during Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Bahrain Grand Prix Fox Sports broadcast times (AEST/AEDT*)
Friday, October 2
Practice 1: 2:00pm-4:00pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Practice 2: 5:45pm-7:15pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Saturday, October 3
Practice 3: 2:15pm-3:45pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Qualifying: 5:00pm-8:00pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Sunday, October 4
Build-up: 4:30pm-5:55pm AEDT
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Race: 5:55pm-8:00pm AEDT
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
* Daylight Saving begins on Sunday morning in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT
How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix in New Zealand
Sky Sport will broadcast the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Sky Sport 2 carrying the action on Friday and Saturday and Sky Sport 3 showing the race on Sunday.
Can I live stream the Bahrain Grand Prix in New Zealand?
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sport’s subscription streaming service Sky Go or Sky Sport Now.
Bahrain Grand Prix Sky Sports broadcast times (NZDT)
Friday, October 2
Practice 1: 5:00pm-7:00pm NZDT
Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Practice 2: 8:45pm-10:15pm NZDT
Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Saturday, October 3
Practice 3: 5:15pm-6:45pm NZDT
Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Qualifying: 8:00pm-11:00pm NZDT
Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Sunday, October 4
Build-up: 6:30pm-7:55pm NZDT
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Race: 7:55pm-10:00pm NZDT
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship (After Azerbaijan GP)
Pos
Num
Driver
Team
Wins
Poles
Points
Diff
Gap
1
12
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
8
6
302
2
63
George Russell
Mercedes
3
5
236
66
66
3
44
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
1
0
199
103
37
4
1
Lando Norris
McLaren
2
3
186
116
13
5
16
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
1
0
179
123
7
6
3
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
0
163
139
16
7
81
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
0
120
182
43
8
6
Isack Hadjar
Red Bull
0
0
86
216
34
9
30
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls/Red Bull
0
0
59
243
27
10
10
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
0
1
41
261
18
11
6
Arvid Lindblad
Racing Bulls
0
0
37
265
4
12
43
Franco Colapinto
Alpine
0
0
27
275
10
13
87
Oliver Bearman
Haas
0
0
20
282
7
14
5
Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi
0
0
10
292
10
15
27
Nico Hulkenberg
Audi
0
0
7
295
3
15
31
Esteban Ocon
Haas
0
0
7
295
0
15
55
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
0
7
295
0
18
23
Alexander Albon
Williams
0
0
5
297
2
19
14
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
0
0
3
299
2
20
22
Yuki Tsunoda
Racing Bulls
0
0
1
301
2
21
18
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
0
0
0
301
1
21
77
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac
0
0
0
302
0
21
11
Sergio Perez
Cadillac
0
0
0
302
0