- Bahrain GP (October 2-4)
- Qualifying: Saturday, October 3 — 9am BST / 4pm ET
- Free stream: RTBF Auvio (Belgium) / Servus (Austria)
- Stream safely and securely with NordVPN (try 100% risk-free)
Watch the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia live streams to see whether Max Verstappen can claim his first victory of the season – and defend his Sepang victory from 2017. He took his first pole of 2026 after looking strong throughout Friday and Saturday, finishing 0.298s ahead of long-time rival Lewis Hamilton, who put on a stormer of a lap after the Ferraris looked off the pace in practice.
This is the 15th time – and first since Abu Dhabi in 2021 – that Verstappen and Hamilton will share the front row. They also did so the last time F1 raced in Sepang, in 2017. The other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc will start fourth, but it will be interesting to see just how well the Scuderia handle the raw straight-line speed demands in race conditions.
Isack Hadjar, who finished on the podium on his injury return in Baku, did well to qualify third but will serve a five-place grid penalty for the race. As a result, 20-year-old championship leader Kimi Antonelli will move to third, while his teammate and Azerbaijan winner George Russell will start a lowly seventh. Mercedes brought an updated package this weekend, but it hasn’t helped one bit – quite the opposite.
Antonelli, though, will know that claiming victory from Max will be tough, but a podium is certainly on the cards, something he won’t mind given he’s 66 points ahead of Russell, 103 ahead of Hamilton, and 139 ahead of Verstappen.
A large portion of the current grid hasn’t raced in Sepang, a purpose-built circuit that’s making its return due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. With two long straights, a total of four straight zones, a high-speed middle sector, and the potential for rain, we could be in for an exciting weekend.
Elsewhere, McLaren are having a tough time trying to bounce back after a disastrous Azerbaijan GP. There, Lando Norris got DNF’d by Franco Colapinto’s misjudgment and then Oscar Piastri, who looked set for a podium finish, locked up into turn one to finish outside the points. They’ll be starting fifth and sixth, respectively.
Here’s how to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 online from anywhere and potentially for FREE.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026 Schedule
Practice 1: Friday, October 2 | 9am BST / 4am ET - Verstappen fastest
Practice 2: Friday, October 2 | 9am BST / 4am ET - Leclerc fastest
Practice 3: Saturday, October 3 | 5:30am BST / 12:30am ET - Antonelli fastest
Qualifying: Saturday, October 3 | 9am BST / 4am ET - Verstappen pole
Bahrain Grand Prix: Sunday, October 4 | 8am BST / 3am ET
Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 Starting Grid
1) Max Verstappen - Red Bull
2) Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari
3) Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes
4) Charles Leclerc - Ferrari
5) Lando Norris - McLaren
6) Oscar Piastri - McLaren
7) George Russell - Mercedes
8) Isack Hadjar - Red Bull (5-place grid penalty)
9) Pierre Gasly - Alpine
10) Gabriel Bortoleto - Audi
11) Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls
12) Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin
13) Carlos Sainz - Williams
14) Lance Stroll - Aston Martin
15) Nico Hulkenberg - Audi
16) Oliver Bearman - Haas
17) Esteban Ocon - Haas
18) Alexander Albon - Williams
19) Valtteri Bottas - Cadillac
20) Sergio Perez - Cadillac
21) Franco Colapinto - Alpine (15-place grid penalty)
22) Arvid Lindblad - Racing Bulls (back-of-the-grid penalty)
How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026 for FREE
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia isn't available for free in every country. However, in these select destinations lucky F1 fans can catch the practice sessions, qualifying, and the entire race/highlights for FREE.
- Austria – Servus (free live broadcast)
- Belgium – RTBF Auvio (free live broadcast)
- Luxembourg – RTL Play (free live broadcast)
- Australia – 10Play (free highlights)
- Canada – CTV (free highlights)
- UK – Channel 4 (free highlights)
- US – Apple TV (free trial) (free live broadcast of every Practice session)
Traveling abroad during the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix? You can use a VPN to watch all the action free of charge as if you were right at home.
How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 from anywhere
🌎 ABROAD? The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026 is broadcast in many countries around the world but if you're traveling outside your country you should consider using one of the best VPNs to unlock your domestic streaming service provided it does not infringe any terms and conditions.
How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 in the US
How to watch the Bahrain GP 2026 in the UK
How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 in Australia
How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 in Canada
Drivers' Championship Standings (after Azerbaijan)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) — 302
- George Russell (Mercedes) — 236
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) — 199
- Lando Norris (McLaren) — 186
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) — 179
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) — 163
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — 120
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) — 86
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) — 59
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) — 41
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