Bahrain GP 2026 Live at Sepang: Watchalong Schedule, Times & Stats
Formula 1 is back at Sepang for the first time since 2017, and this time it's hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix. Round 16 of the 2026 season runs from 2 to 4 October with a standard weekend format: three practice sessions, qualifying and a 56-lap race, with no sprint. We're live for every session with live timing, telemetry and data-driven commentary. All the watchalong links are below, and we'll add results and key data after each session.
Bahrain GP 2026 live: session schedule
FP1: Friday 2 October, 06:30 CEST / 04:30 UTC (12:30 local)
FP2: Friday 2 October, 10:00 CEST / 08:00 UTC (16:00 local)
FP3: Saturday 3 October, 06:30 CEST / 04:30 UTC (12:30 local)
Qualifying: Saturday 3 October, 10:00 CEST / 08:00 UTC (16:00 local)
Race: Sunday 4 October, 09:00 CEST / 07:00 UTC (15:00 local)
FP1 live – Friday 2 October
First running at Sepang in nine years, so expect teams to spend the hour learning the track and the tyres. ▶ Watch the FP1 live watchalong
FP1 results and key data will be added here after the session.
FP2 live – Friday 2 October
FP2 runs at the same time of day as qualifying, making it the best guide to single-lap pace, and the long runs will hint at race strategy. ▶ Watch the FP2 live watchalong
FP2 results and key data will be added here after the session.
FP3 live – Saturday 3 October
The final hour of practice before qualifying. ▶ Watch the FP3 live watchalong
FP3 results and key data will be added here after the session.
Qualifying live – Saturday 3 October
Qualifying starts at 16:00 local time, when Malaysian afternoon storms are most likely. Will we finally get a wet session? ▶ Watch the qualifying live watchalong
Qualifying results and the starting grid will be added here after the session.
Race live – Sunday 4 October
56 laps of Sepang with Antonelli leading the championship by 66 points. ▶ Watch the race live watchalong
Race results, stats and championship impact will be added here after the race.
Sepang by the numbers
Sepang hosted 19 Malaysian Grands Prix between 1999 and 2017. The track is 5.543 km long with 15 corners, and its lap record of 1:34.080 was set by Sebastian Vettel in 2017. The last race here was won by Max Verstappen, only the second win of his career at the time. High tyre wear, heavy lateral loads and big aero demands make it one of the most complete tests of a car on the calendar.
A few stats worth knowing before the weekend:
Only three drivers on the grid have won here: Fernando Alonso (3 wins), Lewis Hamilton (2014) and Max Verstappen (2017).
Mercedes have won at Sepang just once. The team leading both championships has a single win here, Hamilton's in 2014.
Ferrari's double 7: Ferrari are the most successful team at both Sepang and the Bahrain GP, with 7 wins each. Yet they arrive on a run of five Grands Prix without a podium.
Hamilton, Mr Bahrain: he holds the record for Bahrain GP wins with five.
Rain is a real factor: Malaysian races have often been hit by rain, and 2026 has yet to produce a properly wet qualifying or Grand Prix.
The championship picture
Antonelli arrives 66 points clear of Russell with eight rounds left, and Russell comes in on the back of his win in Baku. Can he still turn it around? We ran the numbers in F1 2026 Title Maths: Can Russell Still Catch Antonelli?
Watch F1 live with Racing Statistics
Watch the race on your official broadcaster and follow along with our live timing, track map, real-time stats and commentary. The current live session is always on our F1 live page.
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