Best bets and predictions for the F1 race in Sepang. We provide our Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia picks for the race winner, podium finishers, points scorers and more.
A dominant weekend in Azerbaijan saw George Russell cut his Drivers’ Championship deficit to 66 points heading into the final eight races of the 2026 season, and the Briton will hope to maintain that momentum as F1 makes its long-awaited return to Malaysia.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia takes the teams back to the Sepang International Circuit for the first time since 2017, with Max Verstappen the most recent winner around this famous circuit.
The Dutchman is second-favourite to win his first Grand Prix of the season at 5/2 (3.5, +250), with Kimi Antonelli the favourite at 11/5 (3.2, +220) and Antonelli’s Mercedes team mate Russell rounding off the top three at 11/4 (3.75, +275)
The equatorial climate of Malaysia throws another element into the mix, with forecasts showing the possibility of the first wet race of 2026.
Whatever happens in Sepang, we’ve got you covered in all the main F1 betting markets for Sunday’s race.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia race winner tips
Max Verstappen to win the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 5/2
Verstappen claimed just the second win of his Formula 1 career in the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix and the Dutchman looks the most likely he has all season to break his winless run.
The four-time World Champion has won at least one race in every season since joining Red Bull, but the top step of the podium has eluded him so far in what has been a turbulent year for the team.
However, Verstappen and team mate Isack Hadjar finished second and third in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and Verstappen now has five podiums from the last six Grands Prix.
He was the fastest driver on track in FP1 and put in the fourth-fastest time in FP2, despite not running the soft tyres, so he looks set to be a contender on Sunday.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia podium finish tips
Charles Leclerc to finish on the podium 5/2
Ferrari’s early season pace has fallen slightly by the wayside in recent months, but Charles Leclerc produced the fastest lap of the session in FP2 and his fourth-place standing in FP1 suggests he may be a value proposition to return to the podium.
The Monegasque driver may only have two podium finishes in the last seven races, but he has finished fourth in three of those races and his performance in Friday’s practice sessions should not be ignored.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia top-6 finish tips
Isack Hadjar to finish in the top 6 11/5
Hadjar’s second podium of the season was secured in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the youngster producing an excellent performance given he had missed the previous three races with a wrist injury.
This came as no surprise considering his fantastic first season with Red Bull, which has seen him finish in the top six in eight consecutive races.
Hadjar is 9/4 (3.25, +225) for another appearance in the top-six and looks well worth backing despite his five-place grid penalty, with the Sepang International Circuit historically offering plenty of overtaking opportunities and the Red Bull star putting in some excellent times on Friday.
He was third to Verstappen and Russell in FP1 before losing out to Leclerc by under a tenth of a second in FP2, so his Red Bull should have the pace to make up positions on Sunday.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia fastest lap tips
Kimi Antonelli to have the fastest lap 5/2
Antonelli may look too short a price to back him to win this weekend, but the Italian teenager has secured the Fastest Lap Award on multiple occasions and offers plenty of promise in this market.
In fact, he has set the fastest lap of the race on seven occasions already this season, which is one more than Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri managed combined during the entirety of the 2025 campaign.
Three of these have come in his last eight Grands Prix, so the 5/2 (3.5, +250) odds on offer look very good value.
Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia points betting tips
Nico Hulkenberg to finish in the points 5/4
Nico Hulkenberg is one of ten current drivers to have raced around the Sepang International Circuit and that experience could spur him on to a top-ten finish in Malaysia.
The German has finished in the points in five of his seven visits to this track and has three top-ten finishes in his last five Grands Prix.
He has narrowly missed out, finishing 12th and 11th, in the other two weekends, and he could benefit from grid penalties for fellow points-scoring competitors Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto.
