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Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 66 points in the Formula 1 championship with eight rounds left, but Russell’s dominant victory in Azerbaijan has pulled Mercedes’ title fight back into focus ahead of this weekend’s return to Sepang. Russell won in Baku from pole, led every lap and set the fastest lap while holding off Max Verstappen, and he said he is now “chasing to win every race” after a run of form that has revived his confidence. He also said he needs “a little more than eight points per round” to close the gap if his recent pace continues.

Antonelli had beaten Russell in five straight grands prix before Baku, but his weekend in Azerbaijan went badly after a technical problem in practice and a qualifying crash left him starting 16th. He recovered to finish fifth, but said he lacked confidence and drove at about 80 percent because he did not have the pace to attack as he had earlier in the season. Antonelli also said he would “re-establish the order” over Russell at Sepang, after criticizing Russell’s Baku drive, while Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord said the result would not affect Antonelli psychologically.

Sepang returns to the calendar for the first time since 2017, and 12 of the 22 drivers, including both Mercedes drivers, have never raced there before. Mercedes is bringing its first major upgrade since Canada to the weekend, which comes with extreme heat, high humidity and a chance of thunderstorms. The new-generation cars remain untested in wet Sepang conditions. Verstappen is no longer a championship contender, but after finishing less than two-tenths behind Russell in Baku, he still looms as a potential factor in the title fight, along with Red Bull’s improving form.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur remained under pressure as the team publicly backed him and Flavio Briatore urged patience while describing Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton as a “bickering pair.” Briatore said it was not easy to control two drivers fighting for top status and argued Ferrari had to make clear that the car belonged to the team, not to either driver. He also said Vasseur’s work should be respected, even as reports circulated that the Frenchman’s position could be under threat.

The comments came against the backdrop of a season in which Ferrari’s 2026 SF-26 began as the closest challenger to Mercedes and picked up two wins, one each for Leclerc and Hamilton, before upgrades from rival teams pushed it down the order. Briatore also pointed to the Monza clash in which Leclerc ran Hamilton off the road at the first chicane, underscoring the tension inside the garage. Ferrari has not won a world title since 2007 or a constructors’ championship since 2008, and the team’s title hopes this year were described as fading.

Vasseur, who joined Ferrari in 2023 and has a contract through 2027, led the team to second place in 2024 before a drop to fourth in 2025. Ferrari is now second in the constructors’ standings, 72 points ahead of McLaren, and Ted Kravitz said Vasseur would be safe if the team finished second. Briatore dismissed speculation that he could replace Vasseur, saying it was “too late” and that he had never been close to Maranello.

Formula 1 returns to Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia this weekend for the first time since 2017, with the 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix replacing the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix. The race runs from October 2 to October 4 and marks the 16th round of the season. One source also described it as the Bahrain Grand Prix moved to Malaysia, reflecting the unusual switch in venue and naming around the event.

Sunday’s race is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. local time and will cover 56 laps of the 5.543km Sepang circuit. Practice is set for Friday and qualifying for Saturday. Forecasts call for warm, humid conditions with sunny spells, light winds and a chance of showers.

George Russell arrives after winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Kimi Antonelli leads him by 66 points in the championship. Oscar Piastri is the defending Bahrain winner. Fans can watch every session live on F1 TV Pro or F1 TV Premium in selected countries, with live timing available on F1.com and the F1 app. In Australia, coverage is on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo, while viewers in New Zealand can watch on Sky Sport, Sky Go and Sky Sport Now.

Mercedes unveiled a one-off Petronas-inspired livery for its W17 cars for this weekend’s Formula 1 race in Malaysia, with the design using Petronas’ signature green alongside Mercedes’ black base. The special look will be used only for this event and is intended to celebrate Mercedes’ title partner, Petronas.

The race will take place at Sepang International Circuit from Oct. 2-4, in Malaysia’s first Formula 1 weekend since 2017. The event will officially remain the Bahrain Grand Prix after the original Bahrain race was canceled because of the war in the Middle East, an arrangement agreed by Formula 1, the FIA and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia. Sepang hosted Formula 1 Grands Prix from 1999 to 2017, and Mercedes is seeking its first victory there since 2014.

Toto Wolff said the weekend carries extra significance because of Mercedes’ long relationship with Petronas, and he described Sepang as a demanding test in hot conditions. He also confirmed Mercedes will bring its first major upgrade since the Canadian Grand Prix, saying the team must understand the package quickly and execute well. Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are scheduled to drive the cars as Mercedes looks for the update to move it another step closer to the front.