Formula One (F1) returns to Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, after nine years for the 2026 Bahrain GP. The race, which was supposed to be held in April this year in Bahrain, was cancelled at the time, along with the Saudi Arabian GP, due to the United States (US)-Iran war. The Government of Malaysia and the Bahrain GP organizers reached an agreement under which the Bahrain GP will be held in Malaysia.
We discuss some of the important stories ahead of the race weekend.
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Track and Weather for 2026 Bahrain GP
Hermann Tilke was tasked with designing the circuit in the 1990s during Malaysia’s industrial push. Construction began in 1997, and the circuit officially opened in 1999. The first-ever F1 race was held the same year, with Ferrari’s Eddie Irvine claiming the first-ever win at Sepang. The circuit became a driver and fan favourite in subsequent years.
It is a wide circuit (5.543 km) with a combination of heavy braking zones and long straights, while its fast-flowing corners give drivers multiple racing lines to attack. Some of the notable sections include the long sweep through Turns 5 and 6, and the final-lap hairpin of Turn 15, which leads to the main straight.
| Circuit Length | 5.543 km |
| Number of Turns | 15 |
| Number of Laps | 56 |
| Race Distance | 310.398 km |
| Fastest Lap Record | 1:34.080 (Sebestian Vettle 2017) |
The weather can change at any time, and a change in weather can bring dramatic changes to the race. There is a chance of rain during the race weekend. Temperatures can go as high as 32°C during the day and drop to around 24°C overnight. There is a 75% chance of rain on Friday and a 60% chance of thunderstorms on Saturday.
Can George Russell build Momentum on the back of Baku Win?
George Russell will be coming to Malaysia in high spirits after his flawless race win in Baku. He was ahead of Kimi Antonelli for almost the whole weekend. In qualifying, Antonelli had a reliability issue, which meant he had to start from 16th place.
Russell took pole by eight tenths and led the race from pole to chequered flag. Max Verstappen came close during the later stages, but Russell remained calm under pressure and prevailed.
Russell reduced the points deficit to Antonelli from 81 points to 66. Now the question arises: will the British driver maintain the momentum and secure another win, or will Antonelli bounce back?
Mercedes Bring Upgrades for the 2026 Bahrain GP
Mercedes brought their last upgrade in Montreal this year. After that, the team said they could not keep up with their rivals’ upgrades and would have a difficult August and September. During this “difficult” period, the Brackley-based team has given their opponents a tough time. They won one of the last four races while maintaining the constructors’ lead.
Now, the team will be bringing more upgrades to the already dominant W17 car ahead of the Bahrain GP, which could be worrying for rivals such as McLaren and Ferrari.
The practice sessions will give us an idea of how well the upgrades perform.
Driver Market Updates
The driver grid for 2027 is almost complete, with multiple teams announcing contract extensions for their drivers. Aston Martin were the latest, as the British team confirmed that Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso will continue to race for the team next year.
Isack Hadjar also confirmed a contract extension with Red Bull for one more year. Esteban Ocon confirmed that he will be leaving Haas at the end of the season. Who will replace the Frenchman at Haas has not yet been announced.
The only two remaining seats that have not yet been confirmed are at Racing Bulls. Most probably, both drivers will continue with the team next year.
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