Summary

Verstappen on pole for first time in 2026, with Hamilton 2nd and Hadjar 3rd
Bortoleto into top 10 shootout as Verstappen shows speed
Hulkenberg joins Albon out in first session
Antonelli fastest in final practice
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia held at Sepang circuit near Kulala Lumpur
Race rescheduled from April because of Middle East unrest
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Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

'Alonso surprisingly high'published at 06:22 BST 3 October
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images
Fernando Alonso is surprisingly high so far this weekend. I don't know whether we're just seeing Aston Martin running the car at a different spec with this track being not so power sensitive, like Baku and Monza, so they're genuinely going to be more competitive.
It's a long time ago now, but this is the track where Alonso took his first pole position in 2003 in his second race for Renault. That was when he was really announcing himself as a future megastar, which is what he has been ever since.
Postpublished at 06:21 BST 3 October

10 minutes to go in final practice.
Lance Stroll is out on track and about to set a lap time.
He puts his Aston Martin 14th fastest.
Team-mate Fernando Alonso is just outside the top 10, in 11th spot.

Postpublished at 06:18 BST 3 October

No further investigation for Sainz and Lawson.
The track is a little quiet now with just three drivers out on track at the moment - Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly.
Postpublished at 06:17 BST 3 October
Sam Bird
Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images
Fernando Alonso is looking very strong but Lewis Hamilton is out of position, I would say.
He got traffic from Arvid Lindblad on his soft-tyre run. He then went for a second lap but didn't improve any of his sectors apart from the final one where he got traffic. So he finds himself 1.2 seconds down.

Postpublished at 06:16 BST 3 October

The FIA have noted the incident between Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz at Turn 1.
The McLarens have been into the pits to put on a fresh set of the soft compounds.
The temperature has risen to 33C and track temperature is a very hot 55C.
Top 5published at 06:14 BST 3 October

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

Team radio - Hamilton to Ferraripublished at 06:13 BST 3 October

Hamilton: "Something is wrong with my right mirror. It's moved."
Postpublished at 06:11 BST 3 October

From the live timings, it seems like Lance Stoll is the only driver to not set a lap time yet.
There is just under 20 minutes to go.

Team radio - Hadjar to Red Bullpublished at 06:10 BST 3 October

Image source, Getty Images
"The car is so unpredictable in Turn 9, Turn 1. You don't know when the rear is going to step out."
Postpublished at 06:09 BST 3 October

The C2 hard tyres, C3 medium tyres and C4 soft tyres have been selected for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Everyone has the soft tyres bolted on apart from the McLarens and Red Bulls that are on the medium compound and Charles Leclerc still has the hard tyres bolted on.

'Mercedes and Verstappen looking strong'published at 06:07 BST 3 October
Sam Bird
Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra

The Mercedes cars are looking fast, but Max Verstappen has just gone the best part of half a second faster than Lando Norris in sector one alone on a set of mediums.
OK, it's a new set of mediums and the track is ramping up, but the two Mercedes are looking strong, as well as Verstappen, at this stage.
Antonelli fastestpublished at 06:05 BST 3 October

Kimi Antonelli has completed a fast lap and tops the leaderboard. The Mercedes driver is on a time of 1:36.924.
He is followed by team-mate George Russell in second.
Isack Hadjar has been on the radio to say his Red Bull is unpredictable.

Postpublished at 06:04 BST 3 October
Sam Bird
Former Formula E driver on 5 Sports Extra

We're halfway through the session and we've learnt... erm... nothing, really.
Postpublished at 06:03 BST 3 October

All 22 cars are out on track now for the final practice session.
The top three are currently McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the mediums and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on the hard tyres.
Image source, Getty Images

Team radio: Bearman to Haaspublished at 06:02 BST 3 October

Bearman: "I didn't know what that was."
Engineer: "Yeah we've seen that on the front right."
Bearman: "First I thought that was the tyre but it wasn't."
Postpublished at 06:00 BST 3 October

And we are back. Session has resumed after the debris is cleared off.
There is just 30 minutes left of the session.
Image source, Getty Images

Postpublished at 05:58 BST 3 October
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images
It tends to be in the afternoon when it rains; the humidity builds up, the clouds build, and we saw that happen on Friday. At the beginning of second practice, it was a 90% prediction of rain before the session started. But it all kind of broke up, and it does sometimes to that.
One of the striking things is how few wet races there have been in Malaysia, and in Singapore, despite that fact it couldn't be more tropical. But when it does rain, it really, really chucks it down, but then it dries up really quickly because the sun is so powerful.
get involved
Get Involvedpublished at 05:58 BST 3 October
Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

I’m willing to eat my words here but I don’t think Mercedes get podium this weekend. Red Bull look strong and Ferrari look good too
Jacob, Cardiff

Red flagpublished at 05:55 BST 3 October

The red flag has been waved. There is a bit of debris out on Turn 10.
The session has been stopped and the drivers head back to the pits.
It looks like the debris came off Oliver Bearman's Haas.
Top 5published at 05:53 BST 3 October

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
5. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

2026 Bahrain Grand Prix

3rd Practice

Sepang IC, 3 October 2026, 05:30

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:36.302	12
2	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:36.580	12
3	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:36.860	15
4	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:36.912	11
5	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:37.016	19
6	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:37.041	15
7	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:37.161	15
8	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:37.366	16
9	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:37.920	20
10	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:38.084	24
11	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:38.204	15
12	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:38.223	13
13	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:38.241	20
14	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:38.252	12
15	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:38.266	17
16	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:38.356	14
17	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:38.692	12
18	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:38.716	21
19	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:38.811	12
20	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:39.049	18
21	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:39.931	14
22	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:40.223	20

Last updated 3rd October 2026 at 06:38

Second Practice

Sepang IC, 2 October 2026, 09:00

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:37.528	29
2	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:37.627	23
3	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:37.665	25
4	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:37.785	20
5	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:37.833	28
6	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:37.899	26
7	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:38.020	28
8	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:38.060	28
9	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:38.496	30
10	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:38.588	29
11	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:38.880	33
12	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:39.051	25
13	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:39.109	30
14	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:39.361	29
15	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:39.478	28
16	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:39.706	30
17	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:39.930	31
18	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:40.150	26
19	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:40.186	27
20	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:40.221	30
21	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:40.938	28
22	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:43.391	31

Last updated 2nd October 2026 at 10:10

First Practice

Sepang IC, 2 October 2026, 05:30

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:37.520	23
2	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:37.903	25
3	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:38.303	23
4	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:38.367	25
5	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:38.580	23
6	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:38.590	21
7	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:38.715	22
8	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:39.106	22
9	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:39.197	27
10	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:39.211	23
11	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:39.276	23
12	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:39.293	21
13	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:39.548	25
14	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:39.683	22
15	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:40.158	23
16	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:40.311	23
17	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:40.321	22
18	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:40.413	19
19	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:40.531	22
20	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:40.605	25
21	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:40.800	23
22	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:40.820	24

Last updated 2nd October 2026 at 06:37

Qualification

Sepang IC, 3 October 2026, 09:00

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 3	Qualifying 3	Time
1	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	fastest lap 1:36.477	fastest lap 1:36.477	fastest lap 1:35.696	fastest lap 1:35.696	fastest lap 1:35.130	fastest lap 1:35.130	Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:35.130
2	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:36.595	1:36.595	1:36.032	1:36.032	1:35.428	1:35.428	Qualifying 3, 1:35.428
3	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:36.898	1:36.898	1:36.192	1:36.192	1:35.558	1:35.558	Qualifying 3, 1:35.558
4	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:37.041	1:37.041	1:35.959	1:35.959	1:35.631	1:35.631	Qualifying 3, 1:35.631
5	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:36.730	1:36.730	1:35.970	1:35.970	1:35.666	1:35.666	Qualifying 3, 1:35.666
6	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:37.092	1:37.092	1:36.173	1:36.173	1:35.757	1:35.757	Qualifying 3, 1:35.757
7	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:36.852	1:36.852	1:36.020	1:36.020	1:35.762	1:35.762	Qualifying 3, 1:35.762
8	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:37.264	1:37.264	1:36.245	1:36.245	1:35.871	1:35.871	Qualifying 3, 1:35.871
9	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:37.174	1:37.174	1:36.410	1:36.410	1:37.210	1:37.210	Qualifying 3, 1:37.210
10	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:37.106	1:37.106	1:36.814	1:36.814	1:37.673	1:37.673	Qualifying 3, 1:37.673
11	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:37.332	1:37.332	1:37.023	1:37.023	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:37.023
12	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:37.721	1:37.721	1:37.220	1:37.220	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:37.220
13	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:37.651	1:37.651	1:37.527	1:37.527	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:37.527
14	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:37.729	1:37.729	1:37.566	1:37.566	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:37.566
15	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:37.179	1:37.179	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:37.179
16	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:37.883	1:37.883	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:37.883
17	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:37.970	1:37.970	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:37.970
18	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:37.980	1:37.980	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:37.980
19	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:38.233	1:38.233	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:38.233
20	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:38.600	1:38.600	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:38.600
21	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:38.611	1:38.611	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:38.611
22	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:38.933	1:38.933	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:38.933

Last updated 3rd October 2026 at 10:06

Race

Sepang IC, 4 October 2026, 09:35

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Grid	Pits	Fastest Lap	Race Time	Points
1	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1	3	fastest overall lap 1:38.220	1:47:14.808	25
2	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	3	3	1:38.589	2.307 behind	18
3	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	2	2	1:38.610	4.919 behind	15
4	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	4	4	1:39.336	7.258 behind	12
5	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	8	3	1:39.792	8.571 behind	10
6	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	6	4	1:39.485	9.454 behind	8
7	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	11	3	1:40.254	12.753 behind	6
8	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	12	3	1:40.353	13.372 behind	4
9	Lando Norris McLaren	1	5	3	1:39.970	13.993 behind	2
10	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	22	3	1:40.315	15.928 behind	1
11	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	15	4	1:41.394	17.404 behind	0
12	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	14	4	1:41.248	18.052 behind	0
13	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	21	3	1:40.988	18.997 behind	0
14	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	16	3	1:40.366	22.305 behind	0
15	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	17	3	1:42.062	22.532 behind	0
16	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	9	4	1:41.514	23.315 behind	0
17	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	13	3	1:41.738	25.431 behind	0
18	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	10	5	1:41.382	28.233 behind	0
19	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	20	7	1:42.688	29.310 behind	0
20	George Russell Mercedes	63	7	0	1:40.715	did not finish completed 55 laps	0
not available	Alexander Albon Williams	23	18	0	1:42.284	did not finish completed 55 laps	0
not available	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	19	0	1:59.953	did not finish completed 55 laps	0

Last updated 4th October 2026 at 11:52

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