The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia is scheduled for October 2 to 4 at the Sepang International Circuit. Formula 1's official timetable states that Kuala Lumpur is on UTC+8, while Brazil's legal time in the Brasília time zone is UTC-3. The difference is 11 hours. As a result, viewers following Brasília time will see practice, qualifying and the race during the night or early morning.
2026 Bahrain GP in Malaysia times in Brasília
The table below converts the local times published by Formula 1 to Brasília time. The conversion is made by subtracting 11 hours from the Sepang time.
| Session | Date in Sepang | Local time | Brasília time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Friday, October 2 | 12:30 to 13:30 | 01:30 to 02:30 |
| Free Practice 2 | Friday, October 2 | 16:00 to 17:00 | 05:00 to 06:00 |
| Free Practice 3 | Saturday, October 3 | 12:30 to 13:30 | 01:30 to 02:30 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, October 3 | 16:00 to 17:00 | 05:00 to 06:00 |
| Race | Sunday, October 4 | Start at 15:00 | Start at 04:00 |
The two key times for planning the weekend in Brazil are therefore 05:00 on Saturday, October 3 for qualifying, and 04:00 on Sunday, October 4 for the race start. Formula 1 lists the Grand Prix as 56 laps or a maximum of 120 minutes.
Why is the Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia?
The event name is unusual, but it was officially confirmed. In July 2026, the FIA and Formula One Management announced that Malaysia would host the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix. According to the announcement, the agreement preserved a Grand Prix that otherwise would not have taken place.
This means it is not a new Malaysian Grand Prix under another name. The round is officially listed as the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, at Sepang, from October 2 to 4. Formula 1 has already published the detailed weekend timetable.
How the Sepang to Brasília time conversion works
The official weekend timetable places Kuala Lumpur on UTC+8. Brazil's National Observatory states that Brazilian Legal Time in the Brasília time zone is UTC-3. The difference between UTC+8 and UTC-3 is 11 hours.
In practice, subtract 11 hours from the Malaysian local time. A session scheduled for 12:30 in Sepang becomes 01:30 in Brasília. Qualifying at 16:00 local becomes 05:00 in Brasília. The race at 15:00 local becomes 04:00 in Brasília.
The dates remain the same for this timetable because all the main sessions start after noon in Malaysia. Even after subtracting 11 hours, they still fall on the same calendar day in Brasília time.
What to check before each session
Formula 1 notes that the timetable is subject to change. To avoid a timing mistake, check the official schedule again close to the start of each activity, especially if there is an operational change during the weekend.
The times in this article apply specifically to the Brasília time zone. Brazil has other time zones, so viewers outside Brasília time need an additional conversion from Brasília time or should check their corresponding local time.
Quick weekend summary
- Friday, October 2: FP1 at 01:30 and FP2 at 05:00, Brasília time.
- Saturday, October 3: FP3 at 01:30 and qualifying at 05:00.
- Sunday, October 4: race start at 04:00.
- Venue: Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.
- Time difference used: Sepang UTC+8 and Brasília UTC-3, a total difference of 11 hours.
