The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was pushed back at the starting line when a sudden tropical thunderstorm slammed the Sepang circuit.
Rain forces start delay
Teams had just lined up for the pre‑race ritual when a drizzle swelled into a downpour with lightning, catching the track outside Kuala Lumpur in a violent rain. FIA race control had no option but to stall the race start until the weather cleared.
The rain intensity had been steady for ten minutes, and no recovery was projected for the next five to ten minutes, according to the FIA immediately before the incident.
A medical car was sent onto the track to assess conditions while officials waited for a green flag.
Weather forecast and race implications
FIA officials predicted that a stationary moderate shower would linger over Sepang for another five to ten minutes before fading. Level 2+ rainfall was expected through 15:05‑15:10, with Level 1 rain likely from 15:10‑15:20, and light drizzle from 15:20 until the system dissipated. Prolonged dry weather was anticipated once the shower cleared.
As the first wet rally in F1 since the Belgian Grand Prix of 2025, the event marks the inaugural drenched test for the brand‑new 2026 generation cars.
Photo by: Srinivasa Krishnan
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