F1 Bahrain GP LIVE: Verstappen on pole, Piastri 6th on the grid as racing returns to Sepang

We’ve just received confirmation that drivers will be heading out on track.

The drivers will do two formation laps to test conditions. Then the FIA will most likely elect for a standing start.

The medical car is out on track for a third time, with the FIA predicting a decrease in rain very soon.

The FIA have said: “Sweepers and marshals are working on track to remove any standing water. The medical car is going on track again. The latest forecast indicates the rain intensity should decrease in the next five minutes.”

If you’re watching the race from home, you might be wondering why the cars can’t go racing. Surely, it’s just a bit of water right?

Commentator Martin Brundle has made a very good point on visibility.

“It doesn’t matter how good of a racing driver you are, if you can’t see where you’re going,” he said.

He points out the dangers of aquaplaning –when a layer of water builds up between a vehicle’s tyres and the road surface, causing a complete or partial loss of traction.

Folks this race might be very delayed.

The medical car has done a quick drive around the track… I use the verb ‘drive’ sparingly because it was more of a swim. The circuit looks like a lake, you can barely see the markings on the grid and at one point the medical car aquaplanes.

One good thing is this Sepang track is meant to have good drainage, so hopefully it eventually becomes usable.

The FIA has not given media an exact time the rain will start, but it looks like it will be at least another 15 minutes.

Thanks for joining us folks. The race was due to start at 6pm (AEST) however it’s been delayed because of the weather.

A heavy storm has hit the track, with flashes of lightning and large clashes of thunder.

The poncho-clad crowd is running for cover under the gazebos, as teams run back and forth assessing their tyre prospects.

Reminder: We have never seen these new cars and regulations in a wet race before. Half of the grid has never raced on this track before....

Those two things ensure we are in for a crazy race.

Keep your eye out for Max Verstappen who typically delivers a masterclass in wet conditions.

This is shaping up to be a pretty interesting

The grid is returning to Sepang after nine-year hiatus, with more than half the drivers on the grid unfamiliar with a track that is hosting the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix.

The weather is also, less than ideal.

It’s pouring rain and the skies are grey and miserable. We should be in for our first wet race of the season.

Oscar Piastri is bracing himself for another “challenging” day in his McLaren at the Sepang International Circuit after he could only finish seventh in qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

With his teammate, world champion Lando Norris, only finishing sixth on Saturday, the Australian admitted it was “going to be tough” for McLaren to battle out of the midfield as Max Verstappen looked the man to beat again following his first pole of the season.

It felt almost like the clock had been wound back with Verstappen and his old rival, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, back on the front row together, but McLaren looked out of the picture with Norris conceding the team was “struggling” at the Bahrain race that’s been moved to Malaysia because of the Middle East conflict.

“It was tricky out there for sure,” sighed Piastri, who’ll start from sixth on the grid after third-placed qualifier Isack Hadjar suffered a five-place penalty for an engine change.

Max Verstappen will start from pole position after blistering qualifying sessions for both Red Bulls on Saturday.

Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar was third-fastest in qualifying but is serving a five-place grid penalty, which pushed McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri up to fifth and sixth, respectively.

Verstappen is gunning for his first race win of the season.

Here’s the starting grid.

Welcome to our coverage of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which confusingly is not in Bahrain.

I’m Hannah Kennelly and will be bringing you live coverage of the race which is actually taking place at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur.

Back in April, the US attacks on Iran, and Iran’s subsequent strikes on countries in the Middle East including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, meant the original Bahrain GP had to be cancelled.

It had been hoped the race could be rescheduled when the conflict in the region settled, but instead Malaysia came to the rescue.