When is the next F1 race after the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?

SEPANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, 5 OCTOBER 2026 —

The 2026 Formula 1 season shifts its focus from the rain-soaked tarmac of Sepang to the illuminated streets of Singapore, with the next round scheduled for the weekend of 9-11 October at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The transition from the high-speed oval of the Sepang International Circuit to the technical, low-downforce demands of the street circuit represents a significant tactical shift for the teams and drivers as the championship enters its final stretch.

The significance of the Singapore Grand Prix is heightened by the dramatic state of the drivers’ championship following the events in Malaysia. The 16th round of the 2026 season, which took place at the Sepang International Circuit, produced what commentators have described as the most remarkable race day of the campaign. Heavy rain before the start delayed the race twice, eventually delivering the season’s first wet-weather action.

The conditions created a volatile environment where strategy and luck played as large a role as raw speed, setting the stage for a title battle that has intensified in the final seven scheduled races.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull emerged as the victor in Malaysia, claiming his first win of the 2026 season and the 72nd victory of his career. The Dutch driver overcame a chaotic, twice-delayed, and rain-affected race to secure the top step of the podium. Although he lost the lead to the Mercedes drivers from pole position when the race finally got underway, Verstappen fought back to reclaim first place.

He built a lead of more than 10 seconds over his nearest rival before the day’s second Safety Car was deployed with nine laps remaining, after Alex Albon’s stranded Williams took time to recover. When racing resumed, Verstappen made no mistakes, extending his dominance to claim the win, his first since last year’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The race result in Malaysia has had profound implications for the championship standings, particularly for the Mercedes team. Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished second, further extending his championship lead. However, the race was defined by the heartbreaking retirement of his team-mate, George Russell. Russell was running third behind Antonelli with five laps to go but was forced to retire during the race’s second Safety Car when a suspected power-unit failure stuck his car.

This failure, occurring just a week after a dominant victory in Baku that had offered him a glimmer of hope in the title race, has widened his deficit to Antonelli to a season-high 84 points. With only seven rounds remaining, the gap represents a significant hurdle for Russell to overcome in the final phase of the season.

Lewis Hamilton provided another dramatic narrative in the Malaysian race, stunningly fighting back from 18th place to claim third. The former champion had started alongside his old title rival on the front row and felt he could have challenged Verstappen for the win. However, a Ferrari tyre-strategy gamble backfired, dropping him deep into the field.

His recovery to the podium demonstrated the resilience required in the current competitive landscape, where a single strategic error can cost a driver the entire race, yet a well-executed recovery can still yield valuable points.

The conditions in Malaysia presented unique challenges for all teams, particularly those new to the championship. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team faced a challenging and eventful race, completing its first wet-weather running of the 2026 season. The team opted for slicks at the start, but track conditions ultimately favored those who committed to Intermediates.

Valtteri Bottas was forced to retire on Lap 9 after losing the car at Turn 13 on the wet track and beaching his MAC-26 in the gravel trap. Checo Pérez, however, brought his Cadillac home in P19, providing the team with valuable data and experience in wet conditions.

This marked the first time Cadillac had run competitively on a wet track since entering the Championship, a crucial learning curve for the new entrant as it prepares for the technical demands of Singapore.

Pérez reflected on the difficulty of the race, noting that the team had expected the track to dry up much quicker than it did. “It was a very hard race today. We thought it was going to dry up a lot quicker than it did, but from the first lap I realized it was really difficult to keep the car on track,” Pérez said.

He added that the decision to pit for Intermediates made the car quite competitive, allowing them to close the gap to cars ahead and build a significant advantage over those behind. However, the deployment of the Safety Car bunched the field back together, erasing the strategic advantage they had built.

Pérez also highlighted a software-related issue that affected the running of some cars at the beginning, noting that the FIA is looking into this closely and that the team intends to learn from these experiences for future races.

Bottas, who retired early, acknowledged the risk involved in their starting strategy. “It was always going to be a risk starting on the slicks with the Soft tire compound and today, it didn’t quite pay off,” Bottas said. He observed how fast the cars with Intermediate tires were moving when the race started, realizing the gamble had not worked in their favor.

The team will now regroup ahead of the next race in one week, focusing on the data gathered from the Malaysian event to optimize their performance at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The reaction to the Malaysian Grand Prix was one of shock and admiration for the unpredictability of the sport. Martin Brundle, Sky Sports F1’s commentator, described the event as one of the craziest Formula 1 races he had ever seen. “That was absolutely wild,” Brundle said after the chequered flag fell almost three and a half hours after the scheduled race-start time.

The delays and disruptions, including two Safety Car deployments, created a race day that defied conventional expectations, with the heavy rain before the start finally delivering the campaign's first wet-weather action at its 16th round.

As the paddock moves to Singapore, the focus shifts to the season’s final Sprint race, which will take place on Friday, October 9. The Singapore Grand Prix is a critical event in the calendar, offering a different set of challenges compared to the high-speed nature of Sepang. The street circuit requires precise braking and low-speed cornering, skills that will be tested as the championship battle continues.

The 84-point gap between Antonelli and Russell, combined with Verstappen’s resurgence, ensures that every point will be contested fiercely in the remaining seven rounds.

The upcoming Singapore Grand Prix is not just another race on the calendar; it is a pivotal moment in the 2026 season. The data gathered from the wet-weather conditions in Malaysia will be crucial for teams like Cadillac, while the established constructors will look to capitalize on the strategic lessons learned.

The return to the street circuit also offers a change of pace for the drivers, who will need to adapt their setups and driving styles to the unique demands of the Marina Bay layout. With the championship still wide open and the final stretch of the season approaching, the next two weeks will be decisive in determining the trajectory of the title race.

The narrative of the 2026 season is one of volatility and resilience. From Verstappen’s comeback victory to Russell’s heartbreaking retirement and Hamilton’s stunning recovery, the Malaysian Grand Prix encapsulated the unpredictability of modern Formula 1. As the teams prepare for Singapore, the focus will be on converting the lessons learned in the rain into performance on the dry, technical streets of Marina Bay.

The next race will be a test of adaptability, strategy, and consistency, as the drivers and teams strive to secure their positions in the final phase of the championship. The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the season, with every race from here on carrying significant weight in the battle for the title.

Related: Red Bull · Max Verstappen · Sepang International Circuit