Bahrain Grand Prix Returns This Weekend at Sepang

Posted : 29 September 2026

The Formula 1 season continues this weekend with the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, but the race will take place far from its traditional home in Sakhir. Due to earlier calendar changes, the event has been relocated to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit and will run from October 2-4.

The race is the 16th round of the 2026 championship and comes just one week after George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Russell held off Max Verstappen to take victory, while Isack Hadjar completed the podium.

Sepang will host the Bahrain Grand Prix as part of an unusual arrangement agreed between Formula 1, the FIA, Bahrain and Malaysia. The Malaysian circuit last appeared on the F1 calendar in 2017 and is returning for this special event.

The championship battle arrives at Sepang with Mercedes firmly at the front. Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings on 302 points, while teammate Russell is second on 236. Lewis Hamilton sits third for Ferrari with 199 points, followed by Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.

Russell's latest victory in Azerbaijan has added another layer to Mercedes' strong season. The team has already established a substantial advantage in the championship, while Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull continue to fight for positions behind the Silver Arrows.

For Ferrari, the weekend provides another opportunity for Hamilton and Leclerc to challenge the leading Mercedes cars. Hamilton has already secured a victory this season, while Leclerc has also taken a win, giving Ferrari two victories during the opening 15 rounds.

Verstappen will also be looking to respond after finishing second in Azerbaijan. Red Bull has shown improved pace in recent races, and the four-time world champion will be hoping to convert that competitiveness into another victory as the season enters its final stretch.

Sepang's return should provide a different test for the 2026 cars. The 5.543-kilometre circuit features a mixture of long straights and demanding corners, with the race scheduled for 56 laps and a total distance of 310.398 kilometres.

The weekend begins with first practice on Friday, October 2, followed by a second practice session later that day. Final practice and qualifying take place on Saturday, October 3, before the 56-lap Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, October 4.

The race also begins a demanding stretch of the calendar. Bahrain is followed immediately by the Singapore Grand Prix, creating a triple-header with Azerbaijan after the Baku race.

With the championship battle intensifying and several leading teams still fighting for victories and podium positions, the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix promises to be one of the most unusual races of the 2026 season.

Bahrain Grand Prix Returns This Weekend at Sepang

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