Franco Colapinto will get back into the Alpine this Friday, October 2, when free practices for the Formula 1 begin at the Sepang International Circuit. The Malaysian track will exceptionally host the Bahrain Grand Prix, corresponding to the 16th date of the 2026 season, after the event could not take place at its usual venue.
For the Argentine, it will also be his return to the track after the troubled Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he was involved in a collision with his teammate Pierre Gasly that left both out of the race. Colapinto will arrive in Sepang aiming to make the most of the three practice sessions before facing Saturday's qualifying.
What time are Colapinto's free practices
The activity will begin during the early hours of Friday in Argentina. Free Practice 1 will take place from 1:30, while the second session will start at 5:00.
On Saturday, October 3, there will be the last opportunity to prepare the cars before qualifying. Free Practice 3 will again start at 1:30 AM, always in Argentina time. The official Formula 1 schedule confirms that the activity will take place between Friday, October 2, and Sunday, October 4.
The free practice times for Argentina are:
Friday, October 2: Free Practice 1, 1:30; Free Practice 2, 5:00.
Saturday, October 3: Free Practice 3, 1:30.
Qualifying will take place on Saturday from 5:00, while the race will start on Sunday at 4:00 AM Argentina time.
Where to watch Colapinto live in Malaysia
The entire Formula 1 weekend can be followed in Argentina through Fox Sports. It will also be available via Disney+ Premium, the streaming platform that broadcasts the category in the country.
The broadcast will allow viewers to follow from the first practices to the race on Sunday, in a particular weekend both for Sepang's return to the calendar and for the change of venue for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Officially, the event is named Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026. Formula 1 and the FIA agreed to move the date to Malaysia to preserve the race that could not be held in Sakhir, while the rest of the calendar remained unchanged.
What is the Sepang circuit like
The Sepang International Circuit returns to Formula 1 after last hosting a championship race in 2017. It was inaugurated in the calendar in 1999 and is known for combining long straights, heavy braking zones, and fast corners that offer different racing lines.
The track has a length of 5.543 kilometers and the race is scheduled for 56 laps, covering just over 310 kilometers. The lap record belongs to Sebastian Vettel, who set a time of 1m34s080 in 2017.
One of the characteristic factors of Sepang is the weather. High temperatures and humidity often put significant demands on drivers and cars, while tropical downpours can quickly change track conditions.
For Colapinto, the sessions on Friday will have additional importance: besides readapting to the circuit, Alpine will need to find a setup that can respond to a track that combines speed, aerodynamic demands, and changing weather conditions.
