Summary
- Qualifying starts at 16:00 local time on Saturday, 3 October, at Sepang.
- FP3 begins earlier that day at 12:30 in Malaysia, equivalent to 05:30 in the UK.
- FP3 falls on Friday evening on North America’s west coast, while qualifying takes place early on Saturday.
Formula 1 qualifying at Sepang starts at 16:00 Malaysia time on Saturday, 3 October. That is 09:00 BST in the United Kingdom, 04:00 EDT in the United States and Canada, 13:30 IST in India and 18:00 AEST in Sydney and Melbourne.
Before qualifying, drivers will have one final hour of practice. FP3 runs from 12:30 to 13:30 local time, giving teams their last scheduled opportunity to refine their cars before the grid-setting session.
What time does F1 qualifying start at Sepang?
Qualifying begins early on Saturday morning for North American viewers. Fans in New York and Toronto can follow the session from 04:00 EDT, while those in Los Angeles and Vancouver face a 01:00 PDT start.
For British viewers, qualifying starts at 09:00 BST. In India, the session begins at 13:30 IST, while Australian audiences can watch during the evening: 18:00 in Sydney and Melbourne, 17:30 in Adelaide and 16:00 in Perth.
Saturday FP3 and qualifying times
| Country or region | Time zone | FP3 | Qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia — Sepang | MYT, UTC+8 | Sat 3 Oct, 12:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 16:00 |
| United Kingdom | BST, UTC+1 | Sat 3 Oct, 05:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 09:00 |
| US and Canada — New York, Toronto | EDT, UTC−4 | Sat 3 Oct, 00:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 04:00 |
| US and Canada — Chicago, Winnipeg | CDT, UTC−5 | Fri 2 Oct, 23:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 03:00 |
| US and Canada — Denver, Calgary | MDT, UTC−6 | Fri 2 Oct, 22:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 02:00 |
| US and Canada — Los Angeles, Vancouver | PDT, UTC−7 | Fri 2 Oct, 21:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 01:00 |
| India | IST, UTC+5:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 10:00 | Sat 3 Oct, 13:30 |
| Australia — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | AEST, UTC+10 | Sat 3 Oct, 14:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 18:00 |
| Australia — Adelaide | ACST, UTC+9:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 14:00 | Sat 3 Oct, 17:30 |
| Australia — Perth | AWST, UTC+8 | Sat 3 Oct, 12:30 | Sat 3 Oct, 16:00 |
All times are scheduled session starts. Australian times above apply to Saturday, before daylight saving begins in participating states on Sunday, 4 October.
Is there a Sprint at Sepang?
No. The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia follows the traditional weekend format. Friday featured FP1 and FP2, with FP3 and qualifying on Saturday before Sunday’s grand prix.
Qualifying determines the starting order before any applicable penalties are applied. Drivers carrying grid penalties can therefore start below the position they achieve during Saturday’s session.
Where can you watch FP3 and qualifying?
Viewing options depend on the country and the rights held by each broadcaster or streaming service. Check the Bahrain GP in Malaysia TV and streaming guide for coverage in the UK, United States, India, Australia and Canada.
Check the session start separately from the broadcaster’s programme time, as studio coverage may begin earlier. North American viewers should also note the Friday-to-Saturday date change for FP3.
Formula 1 continues this weekend, from 2–4 October, in Malaysia, which hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Sepang.
Frequently asked questions
What time is F1 qualifying at Sepang in the UK?
Qualifying begins at 09:00 BST on Saturday, 3 October. FP3 starts earlier at 05:30 BST.
What time is Sepang qualifying in the US and Canada?
Qualifying starts at 04:00 EDT or 01:00 PDT on Saturday, 3 October. FP3 begins at 00:30 EDT on Saturday, or 21:30 PDT on Friday.
What time is F1 qualifying in India and Australia?
Qualifying begins at 13:30 IST in India and 18:00 AEST in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on Saturday, 3 October.
