F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Start Times and Where to Watch
Formula 1's Bahrain Grand Prix is being held in Malaysia this weekend. The race, round 16 of 23, starts at 15:00 local time (07:00 UTC) on Sunday, Oct. 4 at Sepang International Circuit, F1's schedule shows. Qualifying is on Saturday at 08:00 UTC (16:00 in Malaysia).
What time is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
| Where | Qualifying, Sat. Oct. 3 | Race, Sun. Oct. 4 |
|---|---|---|
| UTC | 08:00 | 07:00 |
| Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila | 4:00 pm | 3:00 pm |
| Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi | 3:00 pm | 2:00 pm |
| Tokyo | 5:00 pm | 4:00 pm |
| Dhaka | 2:00 pm | 1:00 pm |
| Delhi, Mumbai | 1:30 pm | 12:30 pm |
| Karachi | 1:00 pm | 12:00 pm |
| Dubai | 12:00 pm | 11:00 am |
| Mecca, Riyadh, Cairo, Nairobi | 11:00 am | 10:00 am |
| Johannesburg, Paris, Berlin | 10:00 am | 9:00 am |
| London, Lagos | 9:00 am | 8:00 am |
| Sao Paulo | 5:00 am | 4:00 am |
| New York | 4:00 am | 3:00 am |
| Chicago | 3:00 am | 2:00 am |
| Los Angeles | 1:00 am | 12:00 am |
| Sydney | 6:00 pm | 6:00 pm |
| Auckland | 9:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
Final practice is Saturday at 04:30 UTC. On Sunday the drivers' parade is at 13:00 local time (05:00 UTC) and the national anthem at 14:44 (06:44 UTC), The Vibes reports. Sydney's clocks go forward on Sunday morning, so the race starts at the same clock time there as qualifying.
Where to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix
| Where | How to watch |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | Free on RTM, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Oct. 2 |
| United States | Apple TV, F1's exclusive U.S. broadcaster. Apple is streaming this weekend live and free, with no subscription needed. The race is at 3 a.m. ET |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1 and NOW, with race coverage from 06:30 BST. Channel 4 shows free highlights, at 2:45 pm on Saturday for qualifying and 1 pm on Sunday for the race (Motor Sport) |
| Elsewhere | A local broadcaster or F1 TV, depending on the country. F1 TV Pro does not stream live races in the UK, Silverstone notes |
Why is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
The race was due at Bahrain International Circuit on April 10 to 12. F1 called off the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds in March after the Iran war began on Feb. 28. On July 26, F1 and the FIA announced that Sepang would host the race under the Bahrain name, with Bahrain keeping the ticket pricing rights and race proceeds.
It is F1's first race at Sepang since 2017. The weekend is the middle of three races in three weeks, after Azerbaijan and before Singapore on Oct. 11. Sepang's chief executive said about 95,000 three-day tickets had been sold by Sept. 29, with international visitors making up about half of buyers.
What to know before the race
- Friday practice: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) topped the first session, ahead of George Russell and Isack Hadjar. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) led the second at 1:37.528, with Hadjar 0.099 seconds back and Lando Norris third, F1's results show.
- Championship: Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings with 302 points, 66 ahead of Mercedes teammate Russell and 103 ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes lead the constructors with 538 points, ahead of Ferrari on 378 and McLaren on 306 (Wikipedia).
- Race: 56 laps of the 5.543 km circuit, a distance of 310.417 km. The lap record from the 2017 race is Sebastian Vettel's 1:34.080.
- Tyres: Pirelli brought its C2, C3 and C4 compounds, as hard, medium and soft.
Times are from F1's official schedule on Oct. 2, 2026. Check formula1.com for late changes.
