02–04 Oct · Sepang · Round 16
Weekend preview2026 Bahrain Grand Prix predictions
Formula 1 last raced at Sepang in 2017. The 2026 cars have never run here, and this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix is being held in Malaysia.
- Practice 1
- Fri 2 Oct, 12:30 GMT+8
- Practice 2
- Fri 2 Oct, 16:00 GMT+8
- Practice 3
- Sat 3 Oct, 12:30 GMT+8
- Qualifying
- Sat 3 Oct, 16:00 GMT+8
- Grand Prix
- Sun 4 Oct, 15:00 GMT+8
A Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
The Bahrain Grand Prix was the fourth round of the season, due at Sakhir from 10 to 12 April. It was called off on safety grounds following the outbreak of conflict in the region, as was the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix the week after.
Formula 1, the FIA and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia then agreed to reinstate the race at Sepang in October. It keeps the Bahrain Grand Prix name, and Bahrain keeps the ticket pricing rights and the ticket revenue because it is paying the hosting fee. Bernama on how the race is funded (opens in a new tab). Sky Sports on the calendar change (opens in a new tab).
This is round 16 at Sepang. Scoring is the same as every other round. The layout is two long straights and a fast middle sector.
- Race name
- Bahrain Grand Prix
- Venue
- Sepang, Malaysia
- Originally
- Sakhir, 10–12 April
- Now
- 2–4 October, round 16
The last Formula 1 race here was in 2017
Sepang held the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017. Nine years of regulation changes sit between that race and this one, and the 2026 cars are new this season, so no driver on the grid has a lap here in anything resembling the car they will drive.
Pirelli is working from 2017 data for the same reason. Its motorsport director has said the 2017 tyre sizes are reasonably close to the current ones, which is the closest thing to a reference anyone has. How Pirelli is using 2017 data (opens in a new tab).
The asphalt has changed since those 2017 laps were set. Dromo resurfaced the circuit in 2016 and relaid Turns 7 to 12 in 2023, so the middle sector is seven years newer than the rest of the lap. Dromo on the work it did (opens in a new tab).
Simulations built on old data are the starting point for every team. Friday is the first chance to correct them.
What matters at Sepang
Two long straights joined by a hairpin, and a middle sector of fast, wide corners. Passing is easier here than at most circuits, so qualifying sets less of the Sunday order. Afternoon showers also arrive quickly.
- km circuit
- 5.543
- race laps
- 56
- turns
- 15
- local start
- 15:00
The middle sector
Pace through the fast, constant-radius corners. Sepang is wide and quick between the hairpins. A car that carries aerodynamic load through those long corners is quick across the rest of the lap.
Tyre management
Long-run degradation, and whether it changes across the lap. The 2016 surface was laid for wet grip, and Turns 7 to 12 were relaid in 2023. A driver who is quick over one lap may not hold a stint together.
The hairpins
Stability at the end of both long straights. Both of the main passing places are heavy, wide stops. A car that brakes well can make a move there.
Heat and rain
Cooling, and what happens if a tropical shower arrives. Afternoon rain is common at Sepang. A wet or drying race spreads the field further than dry pace would.
Sepang gets the middle three tyres
C1
Not used at Sepang
C2
Hard
C3
Medium
C4
Soft
C5
Not used at Sepang
C2, C3 and C4, one step harder than the C3, C4 and C5 going to Baku and Singapore either side of this weekend. That is the same set, in current names, that Pirelli brought to the last race here.
Pirelli picked the middle of the range to keep a one-stop and a two-stop close. Teams are likely to disagree about how many stops to make, and that can decide a result on a circuit where passing is possible. Pirelli’s compound selection (opens in a new tab).
The middle race of a triple-header
Sepang was slotted between Azerbaijan and Singapore, so the teams run three races in three weekends and travel from Baku to Malaysia to Singapore. Two of the three are hot and humid, and the third is a street circuit.
Reliability and damage carry across a run like this. A car that breaks in Baku may take a penalty here, and a driver who struggles with the heat here has Singapore a week later. Singapore is a sprint weekend, with four sessions instead of two.
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Championship standings
After 14 rounds, Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ table by 81 points from George Russell. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix still has to be scored, so this table will change before Sepang.
View full 2026 standingsDrivers
After 14 rounds- 1Kimi Antonelli292 pts
- 2George Russell211 pts
- 3Lewis Hamilton191 pts
- 4Lando Norris186 pts
- 5Charles Leclerc167 pts
- 6Max Verstappen145 pts
Scored through round 14, updated 13 Sept 2026. Source (opens in a new tab)
Common questions
Why is the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia?
The round was due to run at Sakhir in April and was called off on safety grounds, along with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Formula 1, the FIA and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia agreed to reinstate it at Sepang in October. It keeps the Bahrain Grand Prix name, and Bahrain sets the ticket prices and receives the ticket revenue.
When is the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix?
The weekend runs from 2 to 4 October 2026 at Sepang. Qualifying is on Saturday and the 56-lap Grand Prix starts at 15:00 Malaysian time on Sunday.
When did Formula 1 last race at Sepang?
In 2017. Sepang held the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017, and this is the first Formula 1 race there since. The track has changed in that time: Dromo resurfaced it in 2016, the year before that last race, and relaid Turns 7 to 12 in 2023.
Is the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix the Malaysian Grand Prix?
No. Formula 1 last held a Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang in 2017. This round keeps the Bahrain Grand Prix name and is being held at Sepang after the Sakhir race was called off.
Make your Sepang picks
Choose your Top 5 for qualifying and the race. You can change each set until that session locks.