F1 Race Today in Malaysia: Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 Start Time, Sepang Rain Update, Where To Watch In India, Malaysia, USA, Canada & Worldwide

Max Verstappen will start the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 in Malaysia from pole position after producing his first qualifying triumph of the season at the Sepang International Circuit on Saturday.

The Red Bull driver set the pace in every phase of qualifying before finishing with a lap of 1:35.130, edging Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 0.298 seconds. It was Verstappen’s first pole of the campaign and came after he had finished runner-up in the previous two races in Spain and Azerbaijan.

Shout-out to the fans braving these conditions 🙌 #F1 #BahrainGP https://t.co/SMV121nJ1z

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— Formula 1 (@F1) October 4, 2026

“We’ve been trying many Grands Prix to get pole, sometimes a bit closer than others, but to finally get it from where we started the season, it’s pretty incredible,” Verstappen said after qualifying.

“I’m happy with today and for sure I’m going to try to win tomorrow. When you start first, that’s the target.”

The Dutchman will now chase his first victory of the 2026 season from the front of the grid.

Hamilton will line up alongside Verstappen on the front row, while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli starts third. Charles Leclerc will start fourth, with McLaren’s Lando Norris completing the top five. The official grid was revised after penalties were applied to several drivers.

The race is the 16th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season and is being held at Sepang after the original Bahrain Grand Prix was moved from Sakhir to Malaysia. The event retains its Bahrain Grand Prix designation despite being held more than 6,000 km away from Bahrain.

Rain Threat at Sepang for Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

Weather could become one of the biggest factors during Sunday’s race. Malaysia’s official meteorological department, MetMalaysia, forecasts thunderstorms in Sepang during the afternoon on Sunday, with temperatures expected to range between 24°C and 33°C. At the time of writing the rain has stopped, but there is a 90% chance of precipitation. 

Sepang last hosted Formula 1 in 2017, when Verstappen won the Malaysian Grand Prix. The 5.543-km circuit features 56 laps and a race distance of 310.417 km.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 Start Time

The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia will take place on Sunday, October 4, with lights out scheduled for 3:00 PM local time in Malaysia. The official F1 timetable lists the race at 3:00 PM-5:00 PM local time.

• India: 12:30 PM IST
• Malaysia: 3:00 PM MYT
• USA: 3:00 AM ET / 2:00 AM CT / 1:00 AM MT / 12:00 AM PT
• Canada: 3:00 AM ET / 2:00 AM CT / 1:00 AM MT / 12:00 AM PT
• Spain: 9:00 AM CEST
• Italy: 9:00 AM CEST
• Germany: 9:00 AM CEST
• Worldwide: 7:00 AM UTC

Where to watch F1 race today in India?

Indian viewers can watch the Bahrain Grand Prix live on FanCode. 

Where to watch the Formula 1 race today in Malaysia?

Viewers in Malaysia can follow the race through beIN Sports. 

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026 Live Streaming in USA

The race can be watched live in the United States through Apple TV, Formula 1’s official US broadcaster for 2026. F1 TV is also integrated with the Apple TV offering for US viewers.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026 Live Streaming in Canada

Canadian viewers can watch the race through TSN/RDS, with Formula 1’s official broadcast information listing TSN, RDS and RDS 2 among the country’s broadcasters.

Where to watch F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 race 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

(With inputs from Reuters)