Formulation 1 heads to the center level of its present triple header this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia serving as spherical 16 of the 2026 season.
It marks the primary time that F1 will race within the nation since 2017 on account of the continuing Center Jap battle, which compelled Bahrain to cancel its grand prix earlier within the yr.
However that’s not the one speaking level, so listed below are 5 issues to look out for on the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
The long-awaited return of Sepang
Sepang
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
Sepang was as soon as a staple of the F1 calendar because it featured yearly from 1999 to 2017, earlier than a scarcity of funding brought about the tip of the Malaysian Grand Prix. It was a very disappointing second as a result of Sepang has been host to a number of basic moments through the years, whether or not it’s Crimson Bull’s notorious “Multi 21” second in 2013, Lewis Hamilton’s title probabilities blowing up in smoke three years later, or Ferrari controversially having a 1-2 reinstated by means of the courts in 1999.
It’s a actual drivers’ monitor as properly, that includes a sequence of medium-to-high velocity corners in between the 2 lengthy straights which are Sepang’s defining traits. “The monitor is superior,” stated Hamilton in Baku final week. “It’s a monitor that does give good racing and in relation to deciding what tracks to undergo within the yr, that ought to be part of the decision-making.”
However the racing this yr ought to look fairly totally different as a result of 2026 rules and in an analogous method to Baku, drivers should be intelligent with the place they deploy their battery energy as these two straights might simply swallow up all of the vitality.
There’s additionally the very unpredictable Kuala Lumpur climate to think about, which noticed heavy thunderstorms on Wednesday however Sunday is forecast to be dry.
Is Russell truly rejuvenated?
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Peter Fox / Getty Photos
“If the season had began as we speak, or because the summer season break, I really feel very a lot I might have been in a position to battle.”
These had been the phrases of George Russell after profitable the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pole – his third of the season – whereas it was a a lot messier weekend for Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who recovered to fifth after beginning sixteenth because of his crash in Q1.
It means Antonelli’s championship lead has diminished from 81 factors to 66 over second-placed Russell, however with simply seven extra rounds at the moment scheduled, the Briton is properly conscious that his title hopes are successfully over.
“I’ve acquired this large deficit,” he added. “It might change shortly. So, I’m not chasing that. I’m chasing to win each race and what can be, can be.”
However does his summer season break declare stack up? Not significantly when his factors deficit has truly elevated by seven since then, but there may be no denying that his performances have definitely improved.
All he can do is carry that momentum into this weekend, although Antonelli can have an enormous say in it as a result of till Baku, the 20-year-old had been faultless in 2026. “I used to be at all times a step behind. Subsequent weekend, I can be again at my degree,” the championship chief vowed in Azerbaijan.
Contemplating his type this yr, one can solely anticipate that to be the case. Particularly as Mercedes also needs to deliver its long-awaited giant upgrades bundle.
How will Crimson Bull fare?
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Mark Thompson / Getty Photos
Mercedes’ raft of upgrades for Malaysia in all probability comes at a foul time for Crimson Bull, which solely lately managed to drag itself again into the battle on the entrance. The Austrian outfit has completed on the rostrum in 5 of the final six grands prix, together with a double podium final weekend because of updates for its RB22 – a automotive that’s winless this yr.
However simply because it had closed the hole, that deficit may as soon as once more enhance if the Silver Arrows nails its updates. “In the event that they’re bringing an improve to Malaysia, then it’s going to look slightly bit tougher for us,” stated Max Verstappen.
“If Mercedes is bringing an improve and it really works, then they’ll take one other step forward, and that’s not what you need. It’s going to make it much more troublesome to win, however we’ll strive each single weekend and, in fact, if the chance is there, we go for it.”
So it begs the query whether or not Crimson Bull blew its ultimate life like alternative of profitable in 2026 at Baku final weekend, the place Verstappen crossed the road 0.196s behind Russell after exhibiting elegant race tempo from eighth on the grid.
Loads of that was right down to the tempo the Crimson Bull groups confirmed on that lengthy Baku straight and with two comparable ones in Malaysia, it may very well be within the battle once more this weekend. However Sepang continues to be a little bit of an unknown and if these Mercedes updates do ship as promised, then Crimson Bull could also be again to the place it began.
This weekend may very well be an actual litmus check for whether or not the Baku tempo was a one-off for Crimson Bull or not.
Driver market questions
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
Driver market information for 2027 has been significantly busy this week with Fernando Alonso confirming he’ll stay in F1 on Tuesday, earlier than Wednesday’s announcement that Esteban Ocon will depart Haas on the finish of the present season.
Neither announcement was that stunning, as a result of though for months Alonso had been quizzed about his future with the 45-year-old refusing to commit, it’s believed these had been simply video games from the world champion to extend the strain on F1 to make tweaks to its rules. A rule set that Alonso has been a vocal critic of.
Nonetheless, anticipate quotes from the Spaniard on why he’s staying put for 2027, particularly contemplating his uncompetitive Aston Martin automotive, and simply how lengthy he can hold going for. However that may be a nice luxurious to have when Ocon is combating for his future together with his plans but to be confirmed.
The 30-year-old has made it clear that he thinks his struggles for the previous two years have stemmed from an inconsistent Haas automotive, although he has been constantly outperformed by younger team-mate Oliver Bearman. “I’m top-of-the-line and I’m not afraid to say it,” the one-time grand prix winner claimed final weekend.
Effectively, it’s time for him to show it as a result of his place on subsequent yr’s grid is in danger. Will F1 see Ocon return to his former self this weekend?
How will Norris and Colapinto react post-Baku?
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Lando Norris, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photograph by: Michael Potts / LAT photos through Getty Photos
One of many stunning however subsequently predictable speaking factors post-Azerbaijan was the fallout from the Franco Colapinto-Pierre Gasly-Lando Norris conflict, which resulted within the Argentine taking a five-place grid penalty to Sepang and a social media storm of abuse.
Norris has apologised for calling for Colapinto to be banned and inferring he shouldn’t be in F1, having turn out to be the goal of Colapinto’s supporters, whereas Alpine issued its fourth name to cease social media abuse within the one-and-a-half years the Argentine has pushed for the group.
All events will hope to maneuver on from the ugly incident, which painted no person in an excellent gentle, however there isn’t any escaping the continuing downside F1 has with the web rage storm that whips up any time Colapinto has even a minor disagreement with one other driver – a problem that was solely fuelled throughout the post-Baku call-out by Norris.
Alpine boss Flavio Briatore additionally hinted at inside group punishment for Colapinto after wiping out its likelihood of a powerful double factors end. Given Briatore’s monitor file, it’ll be greater than making the 23-year-old wash Gasly’s soiled laundry for the Sepang weekend.
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