Bahrain Grand Prix start held at Sepang over thunderstorm and safety checks

The Bahrain Grand Prix start at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia was delayed after a thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rain struck roughly 20 to 30 minutes before the scheduled start. The race had been relocated from Bahrain because of conflict in the Middle East. Cars were already on the grid; drivers waited in the pit lane while the safety car ran laps and the medical car assessed the circuit. The medical car reported a significant amount of standing water. Race Control announced a Delayed start due to excessive rain. The FIA said conditions were not suitable, no improvement was forecast for the next 10 minutes, and at least 10 minutes’ notice is required before a start. No revised start time had been announced. Max Verstappen is on pole, his first of the season, with Lewis Hamilton alongside for his first front-row start since Barcelona. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli starts third after Isack Hadjar’s five-place grid penalty. During the delay, fans sent a Mexican wave through the covered grandstand. Nico Hülkenberg, set to start 15th, said on Sky: The cards are being reshuffled. CONTESTED: Goal.com cites the scheduled start as 9am CET; Reuters puts it at 3pm local (0700 GMT). The eventual start remained dependent on weather and track safety.