The Formula 1 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix takes a very different route this weekend, with the race being held at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit after the event was relocated from Bahrain because of the conflict in the Middle East. After three practice sessions, attention now turns to qualifying on Saturday, October 3, where the battle for pole position will be held.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli enters qualifying with momentum after the Mercedes driver topped the final practice session. Antonelli clocked 1:36.302 on soft tyres to finish ahead of four-time world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar. George Russell was fourth, followed by Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli had been only eighth fastest in Friday’s FP2 but found more pace in the final practice session at Sepang.
THE TOP THREE IN FP3
🥇 Kimi
🥈 Max
🥉 Isack#F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/PtquaPAhX3— Formula 1 (@F1) October 3, 2026
Reigning world champion Lando Norris was seventh fastest in FP3 despite running the medium tyres, with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri eighth. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
Antonelli arrives at Sepang as the championship leader, with Mercedes teammate George Russell 66 points behind him in the standings. Russell was fourth fastest in FP3, leaving the two Mercedes drivers separated by more than six-tenths of a second in the final practice session.
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, was second in FP3. The Red Bull driver is also the last winner at Sepang, having triumphed at the circuit in 2017 before Formula 1 stopped racing in Malaysia.
F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying Start Time:
Qualifying for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will take place on Saturday, October 3.
For viewers in India, qualifying starts at 1:30 PM IST. FP3 was held at 10:00 AM IST earlier on Saturday. The race itself is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, at 12:30 PM IST.
Where To Watch F1 Bahrain GP Qualifying Live In India?
Fans in India can watch the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying live on FanCode. F1 TV plans are also available through FanCode.
Where To Watch F1 Bahrain GP Qualifying Live In Malaysia, Canada And Worldwide?
-
Africa: SuperSport
-
Albania: DigitAlb
-
Armenia: FastSports
-
Australia: Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo
-
Austria: Servus TV, ORF, Sky
-
Azerbaijan: Idman Azerbaijan
-
Belgium: RTBF, Play Sports
-
Bosnia: Arena Sport
-
Brazil: TV Globo, sportv
-
Bulgaria: TV Nova
-
Cambodia: beIN SPORTS
-
Canada: RDS, RDS 2, TSN, Noovo
-
Caribbean: Rush Sports
-
China: Shanghai TV, Guandong Television Channel, Tencent
-
Chinese Taipei: Videoland, ELTA
-
Croatia: RTL
-
Cyprus: OmegaTV
-
Czech Republic and Slovakia: Nova
-
Denmark: TV3, Viaplay
-
Estonia: Go3 Estonia, TV3
-
Eurasia: Setanta Sports
-
Finland: Viaplay
-
France: Canal+
-
Germany: Sky Deutschland, RTL
-
Greece: ANT1, ANT1+
-
Hong Kong: beIN SPORTS, Now Sports 1 & 2
-
Hungary: M4 (MTVA Sports Channel)
-
Iceland: Viaplay
-
India: FanCode, TATA Play FanCode Sports
-
Indonesia: beIN SPORTS
-
In-Ship & In-Flight: Sport 24, Sport 24 Extra
-
Israel: Sport 5
-
Italy: Sky Italia
-
Japan: Fuji TV
-
Kosovo: Arena Sport, Artmotion Kosovo
-
Laos: beIN SPORTS
-
Latin America: ESPN
-
Latvia: Go3 Latvia, TV3
-
Lithuania: Go3 Lithuania, TV3
-
Luxembourg: RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg
-
Macedonia: Sport Klub
-
Malaysia and Brunei: beIN SPORTS
-
Malta: PBS Malta
-
MENA: beIN Sports
-
Mexico: TUDN, Sky Sports, Izzi
-
Montenegro: Arena Sport
-
Myanmar: Canal+ Sports, Canal+ ACTION
-
Netherlands: Viaplay
-
New Zealand: Sky NZ
-
Norway: V sport 1, Viaplay
-
Papua New Guinea & Pacific Islands: TVWAN Sports
-
Philippines: beIN SPORTS
-
Poland: Eleven Sports
-
Portugal: DAZN
-
Romania: Antena
-
Serbia: Arena Sport
-
Singapore: beIN SPORTS
-
Slovenia: Kanal A, VOYO
-
South Korea: Coupang Play
-
Spain and Andorra: DAZN
-
Sweden: Viaplay
-
Switzerland: SRF, RSI, RTS, Sky
-
Thailand: beIN SPORTS
-
Turkey: beIN SPORTS
-
Ukraine: Setanta Ukraine
-
United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland: Sky Sports, Channel 4
-
USA: Apple TV
-
Vietnam: TV360
