F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia start delayed as thunderstorms hit Sepang

The start of the Bahrain Grand Prix, being held in Malaysia at the Sepang circuit, has been delayed due to a heavy thunderstorm. A small drizzle turned into a tropical thunderstorm with a sudden downpour and lightning, prompting FIA race control to delay the start. According to Yahoo Sports, the torrential rainfall was severe, with the FIA reporting that the rain intensity had been steady for the last 10 minutes and no improvement was forecasted for the next 5-10 minutes.

The race, which is being held in Malaysia due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, marks the first wet weather event for Formula 1 since the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix and the wet debut for the all-new 2026 generation of cars. The event has drawn a large crowd, with an unofficial 105,000 tickets sold, believed to be the biggest crowd ever at Sepang International Circuit, according to the New Straits Times.

Max Verstappen is set to start on pole position. The New Straits Times reported that fans began arriving early, with noticeable numbers during Friday's practice session, and the grandstands were packed by Saturday's qualifying. Motorsport Association of Malaysia president Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir said the response reflected how much fans had missed Formula 1.

Brief written by urgent.news from Motorsport.com, Yahoo Sports, New Straits Times, Winnipeg Free Press, The Sydney Morning Herald — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.