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FP1 04:30 • 02 OCT
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
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The 16th round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship sees us head to the Bahrain Grand Prix, but not in its usual Sakhir home. Instead it’s Sepang and Malaysia that is in our sights.
Situated just south of Kuala Lumpur, Sepang International Circuit was a fixture on the F1 calendar from 1999 to 2017, with its searing heat, punishing humidity and sudden tropical downpours testing drivers and machinery alike.
With two long straights either side of the final hairpin, overtaking chances are plentiful, making Sepang a fitting centrepiece of a triple-header that runs from Baku to Singapore.

Circuit Overview:

Sepang International Circuit's combination of tight hairpins, flowing high-speed esses, and two long straights come within a 5.543 km (3.444 mile) lap.
The Turn 1 right-hander that folds straight into the tight Turn 2 hairpin often sees wheel-to-wheel racing, with the rapid change of direction through Turns 5 and 6 demanding precision and commitment from anyone trying to close in.
The long back straight into the Turn 15 hairpin is the prime overtaking spot, where a good exit is a must for drivers to attack down the pit straight as they get set for another lap.
Fast Facts
Circuit Name: Sepang International Circuit
Location: Sepang, Selangor
First Grand Prix: 1999
Circuit Length: 5.543 km (3.444 miles)
Race Distance: 310.408 km (192.879 miles)
Laps: 56
Lap Record: 1:34.080 (Sebastian Vettel, 2017)
Alex Albon Last Year In Bahrain
Race: P12
Fastest Lap: 1:37.141 (Lap 47)
Qualifying: P15 (1:32.040)
Tyre Strategy: Soft-Hard-Medium
Carlos Sainz Last Year In Bahrain
Race: DNF
Fastest Lap: 1:36.954 (Lap 16)
Qualifying: P8 (1:30.680)
Tyre Strategy: Soft-Medium-Hard-Soft
Williams’ Bahrain GP History
Best Finish: P4 (Valtteri Bottas, 2015)
Best Qualifying: P3 (Juan Pablo Montoya, 2004)
Alex's Best Finish: P3 (2020)
Carlos' Best Finish: P2 (2022)
Williams Highlight: Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher scored a second-row lockout in the maiden 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Malaysia at a glance
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Population: 34 million
Size: 330,803 sq km
Language: Malay
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
Schedule
Time displayed in your local timezone
Free Practice 1
FRIDAY, 04:30, 02 OCT 2026
Free Practice 2
FRIDAY, 08:00, 02 OCT 2026
Free Practice 3
SATURDAY, 04:30, 03 OCT 2026
Qualifying
SATURDAY, 08:00, 03 OCT 2026
Race
SUNDAY, 07:00, 04 OCT 2026
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