Chaos hit the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia with the race start delayed amid heavy rain in Sepang on Sunday.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are set to go head-to-head on the front row of the grid for the first time in three years in the relocated race – with the event moved due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
But the race, which was due to start at 3pm local time, was delayed because of biblical conditions at the track, with a safety car spotted struggling to stay under control as it undertook an outlap to test the conditions.
The FIA faced a race against time to get the race underway, with daylight ending at approximately 7pm.
And there was more chaos on the delayed formation lap when Hamilton came to a standstill after a software issue and there was a red flag for a suspended starting procedure.
Some cars were more affected by the rain on track than others and meant not everyone could complete two formation laps required. Drivers then had to go back into the pit lane and come out to be reordered.
A huge amount of rainfall delayed the start of the Grand Prix in Malaysia
Lewis Hamilton is seen taking cover with the other drivers on the soaking grid
Sweepers on the track were seen working overtime to shunt the excess water off the circuit as staff battled the conditions.
And even though the heavens opened, temperatures were still reaching 34C.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Sky Sports: ‘They’re getting the track prepared now, the track will dry pretty quickly when it stops because it’s so hot but I’ve heard it could rain again later, I don’t think the standing water is too bad on the straight.
‘Max Verstappen has been in front all weekend so maybe this gives everyone else a bit of a chance.’
Ahead of this weekend, it wasn’t the rainfall causing concern, but the outrageous cockpit temperatures the drivers can endure in Malaysia.
In Singapore, with its similarly draining heat, George Russell nearly collapsed through dehydration in 2024. He was hyperventilating.
Several drivers will wear cooling vests, which circulate a chilled liquid on the body under race overalls, to combat the climatic challenge.
The McLaren and Ferrari drivers are due to do so but neither Mercedes man will, which at least levels things out between Russell and the much smaller Antonelli.
Russell, who won the last race in Azerbaijan to reignite his title aspirations, said: ‘I was sweating sitting on the beach in my shorts and flip-flops.
Let alone with fireproof underwear, suit and helmet. It will be like sitting in an oven.
‘I would like to wear the cooling vest this week, and I would like to wear it next week (in Singapore). But the team asked me, “Look, we can develop it, and we can put the money towards it but at a cost when we are trying to develop the car within the budget cap.”’
Workers on the track were working hard to shift the standing water on the circuit
With engines roaring and brakes screeching, it is liable to exceed 60C (140F) in the cockpit.
‘We should all be wearing the vest,’ said Russell. ‘When it works, it works great. The FIA should step in and allow us to develop it outside the budget cap.’
Given the extreme rainfall and typical afternoon thunderstorm in Malaysia prior to Sunday’s race, the temperatures were at least more bearable for drivers.
Hamilton qualified second for Ferrari, three-tenths off the top with Verstappen’s team-mate Hadjar third at that point, prior to his sanction.
‘I will try my best to hold on to Max tomorrow,’ said Hamilton. ‘If we are in the fight that would be awesome. I’ve been talking too much, but I guess you talk more when you are happy. It was my best lap of the year. It feels like I won, and I will give it everything tomorrow.’
Charles Leclerc was fifth best, though he was later promoted on Hadjar’s relegation, and Lando Norris sixth, a place ahead of his McLaren pal Oscar Piastri.
