Formula 1 has yet to experience its first wet weather session featuring the new 2026 regulation cars. Throughout the current season, the possibility of rain has been a frequent talking point, with several race weekends facing potential downpours that never actually materialized.
For example, the Miami Grand Prix was rescheduled three hours earlier to avoid thunderstorms, but the event remained dry as planned. Similarly, Canada was flagged as a Rain Hazard race but ended up completely dry, and the Belgian Grand Prix weekend avoided rain despite some showers nearby. This season has seen the unusual circumstance of 15 race weekends passing without a single session conducted in wet conditions.
Except for a limited number of teams running in wet conditions during the pre-season shakedown in Barcelona, most teams have not yet tested the 2026 cars in rain. That could change soon, with weather forecasts suggesting rain throughout the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in Malaysia.
According to BBC Weather, all five sessions in Malaysia are at risk of rain, with hot and humid conditions expected and a chance of thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday. Malaysia’s climate is famously unpredictable, often shifting dramatically in moments—a factor that has influenced many past Malaysian Grands Prix at the Sepang International Circuit. Notably, the 2009 race was stopped halfway due to a heavy storm, and the 2012 event also faced interruptions because of weather.
This weekend’s Bahrain GP in Malaysia marks the third race this season designated as a heat-hazard event, where temperatures are forecasted to surpass 31°C at some time during the race. The last time Formula 1 raced in Malaysia in 2017, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the victory.
Fan Take: The anticipation of wet running finally arriving with the new 2026 cars adds an exciting twist to the season, as rain is always a great equalizer on track. For fans, it means we could soon see how teams adapt their strategies and the car performance under challenging, unpredictable conditions—potentially shaking up the championship battle and showcasing driver skill at its finest.
Source: www.crash.net
