The 2026 Formula One season will feature 23 races, the 16th of which will take place in Malaysia this weekend.
The season was originally scheduled to have 24 races, but the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was postponed following the outbreak of the United States-Iran war.
New date and venue
The next battle for the title is scheduled for the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday, 4 October.
Sepang will play host to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The race was initially also called off due safety issues following unrest in the Middle East, but found a new date – and venue – on the F1 calendar.
The lights will go out at 09:00 (SA time).
Lando Norris is the defending Formula One drivers’ champion while McLaren are the reigning constructors’ title winners.
As a reminder, for what it’s worth, last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix (held at the Bahrain International Circuit) was won by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, with Mercedes’ George Russell in second and Norris in third.
BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX TIMES
All times SA
Friday, 2 October
Practice 1: 06:30 – 07:30
Practice 2: 10:00 – 11:00
Saturday, 3 October
Practice 3: 06:30 – 07:30
Qualifying: 10:00 – 11:00
Sunday, 4 October
Main race: 09:00
Standings ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix
Drivers
| Rank | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | 302 |
| 2 | George Russell | 236 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 199 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | 186 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | 179 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | 163 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | 120 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | 86 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | 59 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | Arvid Lindblad | 37 |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | 27 |
| 13 | Oliver Bearman | 20 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | Nico Hulkenberg | 7 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | 7 |
| 17 | Carlos Sainz | 7 |
| 18 | Alexander Albon | 5 |
| 19 | Fernando Alonso | 3 |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | Lance Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | Valtteri Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | Sergio Perez | 0 |
Constructors
| Rank | Constructor | Points |
| 1 | Mercedes | 538 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 378 |
| 3 | McLaren | 306 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 263 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 83 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas | 27 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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