Torrential rain delays Sepang start by 40 minutes

The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia experienced a 40-minute delay at the start due to torrential rain creating standing water on the Sepang circuit. Originally scheduled for 3:00 a.m. EDT, the race's start was postponed as the FIA assessed the conditions and ultimately set a new start time of 3:40 a.m. EDT, with the cars beginning behind the Safety Car on full-wet tires.

Max Verstappen secured pole position for Red Bull, with Lewis Hamilton in second for Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli third for Mercedes. The delay raised concerns about the potential for a shortened race, but there was still enough time to complete the full race distance if conditions improved. The event marked the first wet race under the new technical regulations introduced in 2026.