Start Delayed Again as Cars Struggle in Wet Conditions Ahead of F1's Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Race control delayed the start after the medical car reported significant standing water and no improvement in conditions, the FIA said.
- On Sunday, October 4, 2026, heavy rain delayed the start of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit, forcing race control to postpone the 3:00pm start indefinitely.
- The Bahrain Grand Prix relocated to Malaysia after officials canceled the original event due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with an agreement reached between F1, the FIA, and both governments.
- Alpine driver Franco Colapinto faces a 15-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine allocation and a prior collision, while Red Bull's Isack Hadjar received a five-place drop for using a new power unit component.
- Max Verstappen secured pole position for Sunday's race, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton alongside him on the front row and championship leader Kimi Antonelli moved to third after grid penalties shifted the grid order.
- Drivers face an unprecedented challenge as this marks the first potential wet race under 2026 regulations, with Sepang's abrasive asphalt and 50% rain forecast threatening a chaotic and unpredictable contest.
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Chaos at the Bahrain Grand Prix: Due to Starkegens, the start planned for 9 o'clock (CEST) had to be postponed to the rear. When it finally started, several cars had software problems, so that there was a delay again.
Less than an hour before the planned start, the precipitation started. In order to protect the cars, tents were set up in the starting line-up.
The frequent, intense and rapid monsoon squalls of this time began about half an hour before the departure of the 22 F1 singles, scheduled at 15h00 (07h00 GMT), and soaked the track, the cars, their pilots and the engineers and technicians. All the pilots took refuge in their garages and the race direction announced that the training return behind the safety car would not begin before 15h40. But in that attempt, several singles cars had electron…
Heavy and persistent rain is causing major disruption to Formula 1 in Malaysia. – I've never seen such chaos. I've never experienced this, says Viaplay expert Rickard Rydell.
The start of the Formula 1 race was officially postponed due to extremely severe weather conditions and a huge amount of accumulated water on the track. The torrential rain forced race control to stop the racing procedure, as the strict safety standards in the championship preclude holding a race with such zero safety for the pilots. The race is expected to start later.
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