P1 with Matt and Tommy - Our 2026 Bahrain GP (in Malaysia) predictions

Episode Date: September 30, 2026

We’re back with some brand new predictions for the Bahrain GP, based in Malaysia ! So join us as Tommy surprises Matt with his outfit of the day. Mind the gap!Come and see our live tour 'Super Podding' this November! It's a brand new show and there are a few tickets left: http:/tix.to/p1liveFancy even more P1? Well, join our Patreon for just $5 a month! You'll get access to every P1 episode ad-free, extended versions of every 2026 race review, early access to tickets & merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with us and other F1 fans! Click here to sign up now: http://patreon.com/mattp1tommyFollow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTokP1 with Matt and Tommy is the world's biggest F1 podcast. Subscribe for new podcasts around every single race throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back to the B1 podcast with Matt and Tommy. It's here. Sabang. Oh, yes. So good. So good. Into our paws. It's finally back.

I'm wearing a retro top, shoo-me, you know, Malaysia are just, you know, I'm feeling good. Tommy, you're not in any kind of rebel clothing, which makes me think you might think they're not going to do very well this weekend. how are you feeling Malaysia barring grombrey but in malaysia baron grubbery so excited for uh sapang to be back awesome circuit never thought i'd see it again be like turkey really where i thought never see it again

yeah um but yeah interesting you mention my clothes actually because i've got a special t-shirt just for predictions so here we go thank you very much right let's do this there is no way you've purchased so for audio listeners Tommy has bought a top that says mind the gap

in the form of the London Underground. It's just, you know, it's a big lead now so I just want to bask in the glory of it really. Sorry, I just got distracted, visualising you going over my front bonnet. I despise you.

I absolutely, I can't believe you've bought that. That's ridiculous. Oh, now I realise I didn't bask in the glory of winning last year's championship in the final grand prix more. I am praying for you to go on the most stinking run possible. Oh God,

I've never wished for your downfall more than right this second. Okay, so let's get into it. Predictions time. The reason why we're not doing any news, by the way, is because we're pre-recording this, right? So just to be up front and clear about this, I'm going on a holiday. So we're getting this locked in early.

So any news would be not really news, would it really? So, yeah. But hopefully, fingers crossed, the news will be that the Maxford's Having podcast is out. And if it's not, then you'll have to be a bit longer. But fingers crossed, go and watch that if you haven't already. Oh my God, so excited. Like, past, future me is going to, anyway. Right, let's get into it.

51.36 to Tommy. Man in the gap. 15 points. 15 points. A lot. Oh, Jesus. Okay, so it's me to go first. So I've got the advantage.

You do. Good surprise. Let's get straight into it. A good surprise. I am going to lock in McLaren. They just finished the race in the points. It is two points for me. I am bringing the teams back.

I do genuinely think that McLaren will be, they brought a lot of upgrades to Baku. Piastri was strong up until the point of the mistake. Lando had submission. of course with his car, which we don't know how much it's cost him. But I do think that was a blip and they'll get straight back to being very competitive around Malaysia. You know, there's a lot of medium to high speed corners. I do think it will suit them well. So I have gone for McLaren. Good Surprise. And I've not learnt because I don't think I've scored one single team prediction it

feels like this year. But hey, McLaren is locked in. Good surprise. I've gone for Liam Lawson back at V-Carb I think he was maybe underrated how he jumped straight back into that V-carb and was quicker than Limblad it was very bizarre how the V-carb just wasn't suited to back here but I think on a more traditional circuit and more normal circuit if you're going to call it that V-cab has been so strong this year so I could see them bouncing back and Lawson is going to be absolutely determined after what happened to beat Limblad whatever it takes

basically I think in this weekend so I'm expecting big things from Lawson and a really strong result whatever it takes we haven't actually mentioned to be fair it's not news but it's something aside from the predictions is the weather forecast

because it looks like it could be wet so now that we've said that it's going to be bone dry the entire weekend and it's going to just miss the circuit by half a kilometer. But that is something to keep an eye on as we get closer to the weekend. So weather warnings and all sorts. Yeah, weather warnings, lightning, a lot of rain, supposedly.

So let's see. Let's go to a big flop. Big flop I've gone for Kimmy Antonelli. So I feel like Antonelli. Back to backflops. There's just something. I can't shake the back of my mind that maybe Baku is. not the start of something, but I think maybe just anything from Kimi Antonelli where he's not maximizing the result.

And if his teammates are doing a good job, we're going to see the pressure maybe start to pile on. And it would be interesting to see how he bounces back from that race in Baku. It wasn't a disaster. He still got a decent result in P5. But as his teammate, George Russell has said, you know, it's crunch time now. And yeah, we'll see how he does. But I've gone for Antonelli. reckon you've got in the back of your mind 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton. It's not been a good hunting ground for championship leaders, has it? Was he a championship leader at that point or was Nico still winning? He was about to take the lead, I believe. It was and then. Or maybe it was. Yeah, it was close. Either or, maybe that's where you're getting it from. My big flop!

Because I think it's going to rain Ferrari. Okay. We're going full team. I don't, I need four points. Like McLaren, can you just won to this and Ferrari finished last? I don't care at this point because they're not going to win anything.

They may be going to hold on to second in the constructors. I don't want that. I want Ferrari to finish fourth in the constructors now, so they get more time to develop the car for next year. That's your third straight Ferrari related flop, I think. Yeah, and it's not coming once because they love fourth and fifth. Well, yeah, I mean, it could also be

their third consecutive fourth place when you've gone for them as well. They can't finish fourth and fifth every race. They can't finish fourth and fifth every race. So if it genuinely is going to rain, I think Ferrari will be terrible. So that's why I've gone for a big flop. And the red cars.

Pole position. Oh, this one's tough. This one's really tough. But I am going to lock in for pole position, Lando Norris. Yep. So I do think McLaren will be quicker. or quicker than they were in Baku at least. And also, if we get some rain,

Lando is a very good wet weather driver. Let's not forget. There are other fantastic wet weather drivers as well. Someone called Tax for Stappan, as we've so lovely anointed him at that name. But I think we're going to go, well, we, I am going to go for Lando Norris. So, yeah, not a Mercedes.

I have gone for a Mercedes. And it is George Russell. gone for George Russell pole position. George Hype. George Hype train. Also a great wet weather driver. Yes, very good. I'm really curious if it does rain.

I kind of want to see rain just because of how we've just not seen any this year and we don't know what the pecking order is. Maybe a Ferrari are unbelievable and their car suits the rain for the first time in 20 years. We'll find out. Yeah, we'll see. But I've gone for George.

I think he's going to continue on that good run. We don't know as of recording if Mercedes are going to bring their lovely little new power unit that's going to make him even faster. And he starts at the back. Or maybe this is the race he starts at the back. And I've just thrown a point in the bin for you. Yes, come on, Merck.

Get me back in this championship. Kind of one point, sweet. All right. Third position, Tommy. Third position, I've gone for Charles LeCleur. Okay. So you don't think it's going to rain. No, I don't.

And yeah, I feel like Ferrari, they just need to make that one extra step from fourth to third because they love a P4 at the moment. I think it was the last, I saw that the last five races, they've not got a podium. Oh, wow, that's a great run. Really poor run when all the other top three teams have like podium finishes that Ferrari are on this really poor run of not getting podiums

which is probably why you've been flopping them constantly and don't blame you because they really have fallen off big time but I'm going to believe in Charleclair because he had a good race in Baku all things considered and I know Ferrari aren't quite there but who knows who knows indeed third place for myself is going to be oh overthinking now yeah it's been your downfall this year it has am i going to change and then go am i being i might be being sort of swayed by your vibes with gr you know and um and then if it rains then maybe it's that i'm i'm literally just changing on the fly right now wow we're moving everything around

maybe we do this, that and then that and then okay it would have got the perfect three yeah can't wait can't wait to hear oh then oh man I'm so this is so tough as much as like you know Mercedes looked insane round Baku this is so unknown this one

this is such an unknown I will admit now and if you throw the weather in as well it was difficult this one was difficult whereas I felt like there was pecking order to the last race that you kind of felt was going to happen equally like tracks like Monza and and whatever but this one really does feel like I don't know okay which makes predictions I've made a decision third place George Russell I changed it three different times

but yeah I I don't know that's the problem I have no idea what I'm doing with this top three I could have gone I had Max in there then I had George then I had Kimmy and then I went back to George and this is where we're sitting on it. So there you go. George Russell, P3. In second position, Kimmy Antonelli.

Okay. I'm just trying to put them in positions that they could finish, okay? Like, I don't know if they're going to be first second or third. That's really, no, but like I'm just in the top three. I don't know. Yeah, yeah.

But the thing is I could put, I could put Lando, the two Mercedes, max. And then do you even consider for, I don't know. Consider Ferrari. So it is tough. But I'm going to go with Kimmy Antoni's second place because, yeah, I keep thinking,

what if it rains? What if it doesn't rain? What if it doesn't rain? Is it the great leveler? So yeah, I'm going to stick with Kimmy Antonelli P2. Can't wait for none of these to be right in my initial one to be correct. P2, I'm going to go for Lando Norris. I think back here will just be an outlier for,

I share your kind of opinion on that, that a bit of an outlier for McLaren. And we'll see a return to form for Lando. but I've not gone for the double this time. I do think you'll be incredibly quick and challenged for the win, but I'm going to go second place. Ooh, in first position, Tommy.

First place, I'm going to go for George Russell again. I'm going to go for a George Russell got his confidence back. Yeah, I feel like the, obviously, Baku, he was really, really strong,

his best drive of the year. seemed very confident has he kind of turned a corner we'll see how he compares to Antonelli obviously I've not put Antelli on the podium I've put him as a flop and put George Russell first what I'd love to see happen is finally have that battle again like Canada and let's see a bit of side by side into Sapang with Russell and Antonelli would be amazing because I think that would be absolute cinema but yeah I'm going for George Okay, first position

Was not George, because I put him third Was not Kimmy, because I put him second Max Verstappen Is winning the Malaysian Grand Prix I can see it happening in the dry arbor wet So I actually feel all right with this one Although he's not won a single race this year He has not

He was very quick in Baku Not as quick as George The slipstream helped him a lot But I do think with the way in which this circuit is especially that last sector that they could be quick and at least stay in the fight I say they max maybe Hajjar

but Hadjar didn't have the ultimate race pace of Max last time out so I'm going to go for it a Max for Stapp and P1 and maybe I can bask in the glory of a max win more than you no you'll never bask in the glory more

no no I will be knee sliding across the room with my cape on you don't know how much this predictions championship means to me Tommy if I can close the gap to 14. But yeah, Max P1 and then it'll mean you're happy as well. I would literally give you the point if I could. So Max wins a race this year. If Max wins, give me five points right now. That is genuinely tempting to be like, I would happily like be wrong. But I don't want to

ski the championship. Okay, 10 then. Maybe I'll be down. People can go for that. Triple points. Supprags. Triple points. Yeah. All right. There we go. Yeah. If we go for our favorite drivers and it comes in it's like double points or something. Okay, right. P-watt. We head to the random number generator between four and 22 where myself and Tommy have to come up with a driver that will finish in that position on the spot. And it is me to go first. So I am nervous. Let's let's get it. Generate 17th. Oh, I hate these. I hate these so much. Oh, Lord.

I don't know. Perez. I will go for... I'm going to go Bottas. That's really boring, but it is... Yeah, I'm going to go for Bottas. Good lad. We love...

Peres and Bottas. Can't wait for Valtry to finish 17th. The second I saw 17th, I was like, Botas. Yeah. And it, yeah, I don't like the 17th ones, because it kind of is quite predictable. It feels like quite predictable, and you have to go for someone.

like a Cadillac. Yeah, and it also depends, obviously, in the DNFs and you're expecting maybe a few. Whereas the midfield, there's so much you could go for in that situation. Well, we don't control the thought. We don't control it. But you need to click better next time, is what I'll say. Okay, that is locked in. We now go to our one crazy prediction, Tommy.

Mine is no rain during a competitive session. Because I'm so convinced there's literally weather warnings about how it's so bad and, you know, it's going to get rained off and everything's terrible and oh my god it's good thunderstorms. I'm looking at the weather right now. Okay, tell me. And Saturday is apparently sunny. Oh, wow, okay. Sunday has scattered thunderstorms but with a precipitation chance of what I'm looking at, 35%.

So I don't know if that... Do you want me to changes? I'm not crazy enough. I'm 15 points behind, so I'm wondering, you know, I'm just throwing it out there. because, to be fair, before I checked this, the last time I checked it, it looked a lot higher than that. Yeah, me too.

Let me go to BBC weather instead. 40% chance of rain on Saturday, 40% chance of rain on Sunday. Does that quite high? It's basically 50-50 on both sessions. It's more in your favour, both times. It's basically 80% chance. If you don't have another one, I'll allow it,

and then I'll complain when we review this on Sunday. about I could do another one off the fly. Okay, throw in Friday as well and I'll be happy. Okay, yeah, okay, whole weekend. No, we don't see any rain at Sepang. No, rain at the session. No, no, just ever.

Ever again. Ever again. I predict Malaysia will have no rainfall for the rest of time. Okay, my one crazy prediction. The Mercedes touch. They touch, Marta. Yeah, I know, literally. I had to stop myself from saying Martin afterwards.

That is such a iconic moment. But I've gone for the Mercedes Touch. Doesn't matter how they could just hug at the end. Park Fermi. Park Fermi hug. They've done a dap. But no, I've gone for the Mercedes Touch because I think maybe this could be an opportunity where we see them on the front row and they fight.

So a little just a little. It's a cinema in the watchalong when they've not collided. But Antonelli parks up in Park Fermi. just slightly touches George Russell's car. Perfect. That is, that's in. Okay, there we go. Keep an eye out for me, please.

Everybody that's rooting for me. 15 points behind, I need everything I possibly can get. Let's now go to our Patreon prediction. Okay, so the one I have gone for is from Grubly. George Russell to win driver of the day. Now, 129 races since he last won it at the 2020 Secre Grand Prix. Okay. Generally feels like based on the last race,

the only way George Russell wins is he has to do it now. Antonelli, Monza, where he has his engine change. So he takes the engine and finishes forth. Lovely. But genuinely, I think that's how he could do it. Yeah. If he takes the engine. Take the engine, George.

Take the engine, George. But wait, but then finish P3. Driver the day voters love a drive-through-the-field. That is the pure indication of like, that's like extra tax. Yeah, it's basically guessing which time George does take the engine. Yeah, yeah, true. Almost guaranteed. So there you go.

So I've gone for Sky Sierra. which is Ferrari on the podium. Obviously hasn't happened in so long. Both of them or one of them? A Ferrari on the podium. A Ferrari on the podium. All right. So, wow.

How far they've fallen. That's a crazy prediction, but it is. They've not been on the podium in a long or while. And how crazy that. I'm on the Ferrari hype train and you're putting Mice of Stappen to win. I'm flopping Ferrari and putting Max on P1. Okay. We really have fallen, haven't we?

But what hasn't fallen is the family top three. 10, 5 to the Gallagas. And let's see who picks up. So my sister is actually there, but she thinks I'm calling her to catch up, not that we're live on the podcast. So she could answer with literally anything. So let's see what happens. And we'll bleep it out.

Oh, wow. That is very different to a Wagwan. We are live on the P1 podcast, Regina. So we haven't asked. you but you said you were around so um we will catch up i promise but i'm finishing recording first and i need you to come up with the top three for the barring grand prix in malaysia please starting with third place oh god yeah i know it's tough come on let's come on please um lewis hamilton oh no okay cool that's that that's not good if it comes in because tommy will then get a point

uh second place please max for stopping don't mind that that's a good that's a good prediction and in first place First place, Kimmy Antonelli. Hey, you know what? Don't mind it. Don't mind it at all, gee. All right. I'll catch you a little bit when I'm done, all right?

All right. Okay, see in a bit. Love you. Bye, bye, bye. Oh, my God. When she started with Hamilton, I was like, oh, no, Ferrari really not on a good run of form. But then drops a little Max in, drops a little Kimmy Antonelli in.

Like, she knows weal. I needed, like, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Lanzhou, Lanceroll there, to catch up because 10-5. This is the mind I'm winning something yeah

I can't get a T-shirt for that it's the instructors yeah your family should wear this is where the money is apparently so

all right I'm ringing my dad hopefully answers Balloogie Fred hello dad how are you hello

Freddie right I'm good I need your top three for the Bahrain Grand Prix but in Malaysia

of course oh and hello to Matt too Hello. Let's hope your family can be as successful as you're a friend in the predictions. No, our family. We need our family to be successful. Yeah, yeah, we're winning.

I know. Right. I know, but I mean, you. Okay. Your massive lead. Okay. Wow. Even your dad's bringing up your bloody lead.

George Russell. Okay. Same as me. George P3. Matt's also gone for that. P.T. Oh my god, it's the same as me Okay, yeah

And P1 Matt's best Oh no Yes, I knew your dad knew Will Oh no Okay, thanks dad You've gone for Matt's exact prediction Which, you know, I guess there's a little bit of like

At least if Matt catches me up In the main predictions We're catching up in family Oh no, yeah, I'm actually so conflicted Hello, he's like a Williams. Oh, I love this slander. Williams have upgrades, thank you very much. All right.

Cheers, Dad. Sweet you soon. Bye. Bye. All right. Dean Bellingham is now banned from family top three. That was, that's that when you swear in the press conference. I think that's only fair after your dad slanded me for that time.

He's still not over that. I don't think he'll ever speak to me again because I went for George for everything last week and he delivered. He said I was like a Williams. He scored. points. He literally can't have scored a point in Azerbaijan, thank you very much. Beated. Unbelievable. Okay. All right. Well, look, I'm enjoying

as the championship gets deeper, the slander is just coming out. It's getting bitter now. It is. This is like the 2021 title all over again between the Gallagher's and the Ballet. Oh, all right, these now is me on top of you. Right, so I'm going to Italy on holiday as well. Okay. Hopefully you've got the Monser

reference. Okay, that's um, not, that it was good. That was good. That was funny. I didn't get it.

Hamilton and Vestappan on top of each other. Oh, right. Okay. Yeah. Like, come on, wake up Tommy.

Right. Okay. Maybe nobody else got it as well and it needed the explanation. I was so confused. I was like, what's, what's so like? Yeah.

What is the supiote? What happened? Yeah, the super yacht wasn't Montza. It wasn't. Um, but anyways, what an ending to the podcast.

Thank you, everybody for tuning in and we will see you well i will the next time you'll see me i'll be in tuscany so um i'll be enjoying some very lovely sunny skies and hopefully the internet will work if not enjoy tom bellingham solo for an hour and the main race podcast talking about how much he loves max for stappen tommy final thoughts final thoughts oh bring on spang can't wait to see it just even just practice or i do have a tear in my eye i think watching it a good tear in your eye not a martin brundle tear in your eye the no oh well i might have a martin brundle tear in my eye when i see An onboard down the street.

When you watch an onboard of Fernando Alonso going down the back street. Yeah, it's true. All right, there we go. It's getting silly. We'll see you very soon. Lots of love. Take care.

Adios. We'll still be doing the watch. Longs, don't worry. I'll try and be there in four pixel form. So, enjoy. Bye. I'm going to get that shirt right off your body. Oh, please.

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