Bahrain Grand Prix start delayed by heavy rain at Sepang
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 4, 2026
Sepang rain delay
Heavy rain pushed back the start at Sepang International Circuit and turned Formula 1’s return to Malaysia into a long wait before the field could get moving. The race was set for a 56-lap run at 3 p.m. local time, but lightning in the area and a rain cell over the circuit forced officials to delay the start by about 40 minutes. The FIA said the race would not begin until at least 10 minutes after any restart announcement, which gave teams no chance to rush the buildup once the weather moved through. Forecasts pointed to the rain cell moving on and Malaysia’s heat drying the track quickly, but the conditions still created a hard opening to the day. The FIA had already declared a heat hazard because of the expected heat and humidity, and that added another layer of pressure to the weekend. Hot, humid weather and a chance of thunderstorms were expected to make tire wear, cooling and strategy major factors across the distance. Formula 1 returned to Sepang for the Bahrain Grand Prix, and it was the first race there since 2017. The weather made sure the comeback started slowly, with the start procedure under close watch before a lap was even turned.
Verstappen pole
Max Verstappen took pole position with a 1:35.130 lap and set the tone for a qualifying session that reshaped the front of the grid. Lewis Hamilton lined up second and joined Verstappen on the front row, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli moved up to third after Isack Hadjar received a five-place penalty. Charles Leclerc started fourth, Lando Norris fifth, Oscar Piastri sixth and George Russell seventh. Hadjar dropped to eighth on the grid after the penalty was applied. Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad also entered qualifying under penalty pressure, which made the session more than a simple race for the fastest lap. The order behind Verstappen gave several contenders a direct path into the lead fight, but the penalties changed the shape of the field before the lights went out. Hamilton’s spot beside Verstappen kept a proven front-row pairing in place, and Antonelli’s jump to third put him close to the front of the field. The top eight carried a mix of speed and risk, with traffic management and position changes expected across the 56 laps once the race finally got underway. Qualifying left little room for mistakes, and every penalty mattered.
Antonelli and Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrived at Sepang leading the championship by 66 points after Baku, and Mercedes backed him with a major upgrade package for the weekend. The team brought a new floor, rear suspension and rear corner, a clear sign that it came to Malaysia looking for more from the car on a demanding circuit. That mattered because the weather had already delayed the start. Hot, humid conditions and the chance of thunderstorms were expected to test tire wear, cooling and strategy over 56 laps, and a drying track could change the balance quickly if the rain cleared. Mercedes needed the new parts to work in a race that could shift from wet to dry in short order. U.S. viewers also had a full weekend option. Apple TV carried the event live, and F1 TV offered onboard cameras, team radio and extra feeds for fans who wanted a closer view of the action. The combination of a championship leader, a major upgrade package and unstable weather underscored the importance of Sepang for Mercedes.
