Key events
Mercedes: Antonelli remains comfortably in control of the championship, holding a 66-point advantage over his Mercedes team-mate Russell. Verstappen, meanwhile, sits down in sixth and looks unlikely to pose a serious threat to the title fight from here.
For Russell, though, today represents a crucial opportunity. Starting seventh, he has plenty of work to do if he is to stop Antonelli from extending his championship lead. And if the conditions turn wet, Russell could yet have a card to play. He has proven himself more than capable in tricky conditions – but Antonelli has too.
Just look back to the Italian’s remarkable debut in Australia last year. In treacherous conditions, Antonelli was the only rookie to finish the race, charging from 16th on the grid to take an impressive fourth-place finish.
Weather update: It has begun to rain down heavily. In terms of track conditions, it is a lot cooler at 43C than yesterday, when at times the track was at 59C.
2026 season: The final races of the Formula One season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead as planned despite the conflict in the Middle East, the sport’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, said on Saturday.
“Based on the information we have, everything is confirmed for [us to stay in] Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” Domenicali told the French broadcaster Canal+ on the sidelines of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was relocated to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, the head of motorsport’s blue riband series “confirmed the schedule for the final two grands prix” of the year in Qatar on 29 November and Abu Dhabi on 6 December.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix were scrapped earlier this season due to the start of the US-led war with Iran.
Domenicali insisted “that everything was in order” and that “teams and drivers were being kept informed of the situation”. He added that 99% of tickets had been sold in Abu Dhabi and that the season-ending race was generating “great excitement”.
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Preamble
All eyes are on Sepang as the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia gets ready to roar into life – and there is plenty at stake.
And there is plenty to get excited about as Max Verstappen starts from pole, with Lewis Hamilton alongside him on the front row – the first time the two have shared the front row since July 2023.
Verstappen finally has his first pole of the season after an outstanding qualifying session, and the four-time world champion will be targeting his first Red Bull victory of the campaign. Hamilton, meanwhile, will be chasing a second career win with Ferrari.
Behind them, Isack Hadjar starts third but will drop five places due to his grid penalty, promoting the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, to the second row. The Italian arrives with a healthy lead over title rival George Russell, who starts seventh, and will have his sights firmly set on another victory.
With the championship battle heating up and Verstappen and Hamilton starting side by side, there is plenty at stake when the lights go out.
Stay with us as we buildup to the start at 8am BST time.
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