The 16th round of the 2026 Formula One season, the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, has been relocated from the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir to the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor, Malaysia, due to regional instability stemming from the conflict in Iran and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Originally scheduled for early April but canceled, the event will now be held at Sepang, with the race weekend kicking off on Friday, October 2.
At a Glance: How to Watch 2026 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Live Online
- Dates: Oct. 2–4
- Venue: Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
- Livestream Online: Apple TV, Bahrain’s beIN SPORTS (with ExpressVPN)
This marks not the first time F1 has altered its calendar due to the Iran conflict; the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was canceled in late April and remains unscheduled.
Heading into the Bahrain GP, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli leads the championship with 302 points and 12 podiums from 15 races. His teammate George Russell sits second with 236 points after winning the Azerbaijan GP, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is third with 199 points.
How to Watch the Bahrain Grand Prix Live in the United States
Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. streaming rights for F1, making a subscription the best way to watch. At $14.99/month or $119/year, it offers a seven-day free trial, allowing you to stream the race weekend for free.
Beyond the Bahrain GP, Apple TV is essential for F1 fans, providing live coverage of every practice, qualifying, sprint, and race, plus warmups, analysis, interviews, highlights, and replays. The series Drive to Survive is also available on Apple TV and Netflix.
VPN Access: Watch F1 Bahrain Online for Free Internationally
A VPN subscription offers another option: the race is broadcast free on Bahrain’s beIN SPORTS, which is region-locked to Bahrain and the Middle East. A VPN like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Proton VPN lets you access the stream from anywhere.
F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 Schedule
The 2026 Bahrain GP kicks off with two practice sessions on Friday, October 2, and concludes with the race on Sunday, October 4.
Friday, Oct. 2
- Practice 1: 12:30 a.m ET/9:30 p.m PT (Thursday, Oct. 1)
- Practice 2: 4 a.m ET/1 a.m PT
Saturday, Oct. 3
- Practice 3: 12:30 a.m ET/9:30 p.m PT (Thursday, Oct. 1)
- Qualifying: 4 a.m ET/1 a.m PT
Sunday, Oct. 4
- Race Day: 3 a.m ET/12 a.m. PT
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