Formula 1 heads to Malaysia this weekend for the 16th round of the 2026 season, with the Sepang International Circuit set to host the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia from October 2 to 4.
The unusual arrangement comes after the Bahrain Grand Prix, originally scheduled for earlier in the season, was postponed because of security concerns linked to the situation in the Middle East. Formula 1 and the FIA subsequently found a way to keep the race on the calendar by moving it to Malaysia, with Sepang hosting the Bahrain round between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix.
The relocated race follows an important weekend in Baku, where George Russell claimed his third victory of the season to cut Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli’s lead in the drivers’ championship to 66 points.
The previous round in Azerbaijan gave Russell valuable momentum in the championship battle, with the Mercedes driver taking his third victory of the season in Baku and cutting Antonelli’s advantage from 81 points to 66.
Russell made the most of a dominant qualifying performance that put him on pole, while his teammate’s mistake in Q1 left Antonelli starting from 16th.
The championship leader nevertheless produced a strong damage-limitation drive on race day, fighting his way through the field to finish fifth and restrict the points lost to his teammate.
As the season enters its later stages, both Mercedes drivers and the team head to Sepang with strong momentum.
A different challenge at Sepang
The return to Sepang gives the teams a very different test from the street circuit of Baku. The 5.543-kilometre layout combines long straights, heavy braking zones and a series of fast, flowing corners, making it one of the more complete circuits on the Formula 1 calendar.
The track’s tropical climate will add another challenge. High temperatures and humidity are expected throughout the weekend, while the possibility of sudden thunderstorms could dramatically change conditions during a session or the race. The weather has historically been one of Sepang’s defining characteristics.
Sepang last hosted a Formula 1 race in 2017, when Max Verstappen won for Red Bull ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo. The circuit made its F1 debut in 1999 and remained on the calendar until 2017 before returning this weekend as the venue for the relocated Bahrain round.
The return also creates an element of uncertainty for the current grid. More than half of the drivers have never raced at Sepang in Formula 1, while the current generation of cars has no recent competitive data from the circuit. Teams will therefore rely heavily on simulations and the opening practice sessions to understand how their cars perform on the demanding layout.
Mercedes in control as title fight narrows
Antonelli heads to Malaysia with a 66-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton sits third, 103 points off the championship lead. Reigning world champion Lando Norris is a further 13 points behind Hamilton.
Mercedes has also built a commanding advantage in the constructors’ championship, winning 11 of the opening 15 rounds and the last three races. The team leads Ferrari by 160 points, with the Silver Arrows now firmly in control of both championships.
The focus is therefore increasingly on the battle between Antonelli and Russell. Antonelli still has a sizeable advantage, but Russell will look to continue closing the gap in Sepang, where the demanding circuit and unpredictable weather could add another twist to the championship fight.
For Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, the focus will be on challenging Mercedes and maximising their points haul.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia (Moroccan time)
Friday, October 2
Free Practice 1: 04:30 - 05:30
Free Practice 2: 08:00 - 09:00
Saturday, October 3
Free Practice 3: 04:30 - 05:30
Qualifying: 08:00 - 09:00
Sunday, October 4
Bahrain Grand Prix: 07:00
