2026 Formula 1 · Round 16
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026: what channel is it on, start time and how to stream
Dash Marchetti · Race weekend desk
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Sepang returns to the calendar with the wide, sweeping layout that made it a driver favourite through its first spell in Formula 1.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia has finished. Replays are on F1 TV Pro, and on Apple TV in the US.
What channel is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on?
It depends where you are. In the United States every session is on Apple TV — the rights moved from ESPN ahead of the 2026 season, so it is no longer on cable. In the United Kingdom it is Sky Sports F1, with free highlights on Channel 4. Canada has TSN and RDS; Australia has Fox Sports and Kayo.
| Where you are | Live TV | Streaming | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Apple TV (exclusive — every practice, qualifying, sprint and race) | Apple TV app on smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, consoles, iOS, Android, or tv.apple.com in any browser | Apple TV free trial for new subscribers; practice sessions stream free in the Apple TV app |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1 (every session live) | Sky Go, NOW Sports Membership, Virgin Media | Channel 4 shows extended highlights of every race, plus the British Grand Prix live in full |
| Canada | TSN (English) and RDS (French) | TSN+, RDS Direct, F1 TV Pro | No free live option |
| Australia | Fox Sports and Kayo Sports (every session live) | Kayo Sports on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast and smart TVs | Network 10 carries the Australian Grand Prix free-to-air under anti-siphoning rules |
| Ireland | Sky Sports F1 | Sky Go, NOW | Channel 4 highlights are available in most of Ireland |
| Most other countries | A local rights holder in each market — check your listings | F1 TV Pro streams every session live in 180+ countries (not available in the UK; in the US it is bundled with Apple TV as F1 TV Premium) | No free live option |
Listings checked Sunday, August 30, 2026. Broadcast rights change between seasons and vary by region — confirm with your provider before the session starts.
What time does the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia start?
Lights out is 7:00 AM UTC on Sunday, October 4, 2026 — that is 7:00 AM UTC where you are. Broadcasters start their build-up show roughly half an hour earlier.
| City | Race starts |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Sun, Oct 4 · 12:00 AM |
| New York | Sun, Oct 4 · 3:00 AM |
| São Paulo | Sun, Oct 4 · 4:00 AM |
| London | Sun, Oct 4 · 8:00 AM |
| Paris, Berlin, Rome | Sun, Oct 4 · 9:00 AM |
| Dubai | Sun, Oct 4 · 11:00 AM |
| New Delhi | Sun, Oct 4 · 12:30 PM |
| Singapore | Sun, Oct 4 · 3:00 PM |
| Tokyo | Sun, Oct 4 · 4:00 PM |
| Sydney | Sun, Oct 4 · 6:00 PM |
How to stream the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia live
No cable needed anywhere. US viewers use the Apple TV app, which runs on smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, consoles, phones and any web browser — and includes F1 TV Premium at no extra cost. UK viewers can stream Sky Sports F1 through a NOW Sports Membership with no contract. In Canada, TSN+ is sold standalone. Elsewhere, F1 TV Pro streams every session live in more than 180 countries.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia weekend schedule
Every session in UTC and converted to your own timezone. Standard format: three practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday, the Grand Prix on Sunday.
| Session | Date | Start (UTC) | Your time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Fri, Oct 2 | 4:30 AM | 4:30 AM UTC | Finished |
| Practice 2 | Fri, Oct 2 | 8:00 AM | 8:00 AM UTC | Finished |
| Practice 3 | Sat, Oct 3 | 4:30 AM | 4:30 AM UTC | Finished |
| Qualifying | Sat, Oct 3 | 8:00 AM | 8:00 AM UTC | Finished |
| Race | Sun, Oct 4 | 7:00 AM | 7:00 AM UTC | Finished |
Can you watch the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia free?
- US — practice streams free in the Apple TV app, and a new-subscriber free trial covers a full race weekend.
- UK — Channel 4 airs extended highlights of every race free-to-air, and the British Grand Prix live in full.
- Australia — Network 10 carries the Australian Grand Prix free-to-air.
- Anywhere — official highlights land on Formula 1’s YouTube channel a few hours after each session.
Unofficial streams are unreliable, usually illegal and a common malware vector. Everything listed here is a licensed broadcaster.
What to watch for at Sepang International Circuit
Two long straights joined by a hairpin give this circuit some of the most straightforward overtaking anywhere, and the wide track surface means drivers can genuinely run side by side. The real variable is the weather: tropical afternoon downpours arrive fast, sit over the circuit, and have turned races here upside down before. Heat and humidity make it one of the most physically demanding rounds of the year.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia is round 16 of the 2026 championship, run on a 5.5 km permanent circuit outside Kuala Lumpur, unusually wide, with two long straights and a reputation for sudden tropical rain.
Waiting for lights out? Play today’s F1 grid
SpeedGrids is a free daily Formula 1 trivia grid — nine cells, two clues each, name a driver who matches both. New board every day, no account needed.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia: quick answers
- What channel is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on?
- In the United States, Apple TV (exclusive — every practice, qualifying, sprint and race). In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 (every session live). In Canada it is TSN and RDS, in Australia Fox Sports and Kayo, and in most other countries F1 TV Pro carries every session live alongside the local broadcaster.
- What time does the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia start?
- Lights out is 7:00 AM UTC on Sunday, October 4, 2026 — Sun, Oct 4 · 3:00 AM in New York, Sun, Oct 4 · 8:00 AM in London and Sun, Oct 4 · 6:00 PM in Sydney.
- Can I watch the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia for free?
- In the US, practice streams free in the Apple TV app and new subscribers get a free trial. In the UK, Channel 4 shows extended race highlights free-to-air. In Australia, Network 10 carries the Australian Grand Prix free. Official highlights go up on Formula 1's YouTube channel after every session.
- How many laps is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
- The FIA confirms the lap count in the event notes published during race week.
Next races
- How to watch the United States Grand Prix — Sunday, October 25, 2026