Oscar Piastri won last season's Bahrain Grand Prix, but the 2026 edition offers a very different test as the drivers head to the Sepang International Circuit for the first time since 2017, some 6,000km from Bahrain.
George Russell travels to Malaysia full of confidence after one of his strongest weekends of the season in Azerbaijan, where the Briton took pole position and led every lap of a chaotic race en route to his third win of the season.
The Mercedes man still sits 66 points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli in the World Drivers' Championship, though, after the Italian youngster pulled off a great recovery drive to finish fifth in Baku.
The two Silver Arrows drivers lead the betting for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, but McLaren and Ferrari will both be hoping for a resurgence and Max Verstappen remains a constant threat.
Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix betting picks and predictions
Lando Norris to win (+700)
It was a disappointing weekend for McLaren in Azerbaijan as they finished pointless for the first time since the Canadian Grand Prix, but the papaya team looks overpriced for a return to form at a track that should suit their package well.
McLaren's upgrade package introduced significant drag in Baku, costing them time down the lengthy straight, and their misery was compounded by Lando Norris' retirement and a damaging mistake by Oscar Piastri.
Norris was involved in a collision during the Safety Car restart before Piastri, running second, locked up into Turn 1 and fell down to 15th.
The high-speed, sweeping corners of the Sepang International Circuit should suit McLaren much more than Baku, and a rain-affected race could further play into Norris' hands.
He has shown excellent pace in the wet over his career and has won two of the last five Grands Prix, so back him at a big price to take the win.
Max Verstappen to finish on the podium (+137)
The Sepang International Circuit was the scene of Max Verstappen's first Grand Prix win at Red Bull and, while a victory is not completely off the cards, backing him to secure another top-three finish is the safer route this weekend.
The Dutchman led a strong Red Bull performance in Azerbaijan, narrowly missing out on the win while teammate Isack Hadjar came third on his return to action.
This was Verstappen's seventh podium of 2026 and his fifth in the last six races, including three second-place finishes.
He was also on track for a podium in the British Grand Prix before a late crash and he looks good value for another strong result at a circuit he will have fond memories of.
Arvid Lindblad to finish in the points (-110)
Arvid Lindblad endured a frustrating weekend in Azerbaijan, crashing out of FP2 before putting in a poor showing in Qualifying on Friday.
He finished seventh in the race, but this result was marred by a collision with teammate Liam Lawson and he will be looking for a cleaner weekend in Malaysia.
The Racing Bulls driver has nevertheless been fantastic in his rookie season and should be backed to return to form in Sepang, where many of the other drivers' experiential advantage is nonexistent.
Over half the grid have never driven an F1 car around the Sepang International Circuit, and Lindblad heads to Malaysia having won points in nine of the last 10 Grands Prix.
Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix outright odds
Kimi Antonelli | +140 |
George Russell | +300 |
Lando Norris | +700 |
Max Verstappen | +750 |
Charles Leclerc | +1000 |
Lewis Hamilton | +1000 |
Oscar Piastri | +1100 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
