Formula 1 to Malaysia: Timetables and information about the Bahrain GP

Sin pauses, the Formula 1 World Championship continues next weekend (2 to 4 october) with the Bahrain GP in Malaysia. This is how proof is designated that marks the return to the Sepang circuit nine years later.

Due to the conflict in the Middle East, Bahrain was unable to host the championship on its territory, outside Manama as usual. The solution was to pay for the test in Malaysia, with the name and barenite flag.

Kimi Antonelli leads, Russell nearest

Andrea Kimi Antonelli broke a cycle of five podiums (and two wins) consecutive with the fifth place in the Azerbaijanese GP. The young Mercedes minimized the damage after pulling out of the 16th place due to an accident in qualification and maintains a quiet margin of leadership.

Right now, Antonelli has already surpassed the 300 points and is more 66 than his teammate George Russell – that in Baku put an end to a long fast of victories. Thus, he also took off from Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) in the fight for second place, leaving the hept champion 37 points behind him.

Hamilton arrives in Sepang with 13 more points than Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes) in the battle for the podium of the World, although he has taken limited advantage of the abandonment of his rival in the Azerbaijanese GP. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) follows fifth, with 16 more points than Max Verstappen (Red Bull). The tetra-champion is getting closer and closer, keeping in its best period of the year with six podiums in the last eight stages (three of them consecutive).

The “best of the second platoon” is Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Ford) in ninth, with an 18-point advance against Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Mercedes) – who, in turn, has only four more points than the Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls/Ford) rookie, one of the biggest surprises of the year.

Mercedes getting closer to the title

Mercedes reaches the Bahrain GP in Malaysia with 538 points in the builder championship – 160 more than Ferrari, which in turn has a 72-point advance to McLaren. The Red Bull is fourth to 43 top three points.

There is then a gap practically insurmountable against the fifth-rate Racing Bulls, which fights to be “the best of the others” with Alpine – being separated by 15 points. The seventh rank is a match between Haas, Audi and Williams, which also fits in 15 points. Aston Martin, with three points, is ten, only in front of Cadillac which is the only team to zero.

A return nine years later

Absent from the Formula 1 calendar since 2017, sepang International Circuit has 15 curves and a turn extends for 5.543 km. Far from being the most sinuous traces of the calendar, it has few closed curves and stands out for its two long straights – one parallel to the goal, both being connected by a hook.

The best ever race lap was established by Sebastian Vettel in 2017 (1m34,080 seconds). In the same year, Lewis Hamilton performed the fastest lap ever in 1m30,076 seconds, in qualifying.

Grand Prix for early risers

The Bahrain GP in Malaysia will be held in the early morning hours by European time zones, with the race from Sunday to 08:00 (time of Continental Portugal, 07:00 in the Azores).

The program follows the usual molds, with two free trainings on Friday, the last free training and qualification in the Senate and the race on Sunday. Keep track of all the schedules.

• Friday, October 2
  • 05:30-06:30: Free training 1
  • 09:00-10:00: Free training 2
• Saturday, 3 October
  • 05:30-06:30: Free training 3
  • 09:00-10:00: Qualification
• Sunday, 4 October
  • 08:00: Race (56 laps or 2 hours)