Formula 1 returns to Sepang: Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix
Formula 1 will return to the Sepang circuit for the first time since 2017, but the race in Malaysia will not carry the traditional Malaysian Grand Prix name. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Formula One Management announced on 26 July 2026 that Sepang International Circuit will host the Bahrain Grand Prix from 2 to 4 October, after the event could not be held on its originally scheduled date because of the security situation in the Middle East.
The official name of the event will be Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. This is an unusual arrangement in which one country takes over the organisation of a race while the event retains the name of another country and its title sponsor. According to the joint announcement by the FIA and Formula 1, the agreement was reached by the championship's governing bodies and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia, with political support from the highest representatives of both countries.
The race is scheduled for the weekend between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which is due to take place from 24 to 26 September, and the Singapore Grand Prix from 9 to 11 October. The remainder of the 2026 season calendar remains unchanged for now. However, the organisers stressed that the event is still subject to the completion of final contracts, official confirmation and approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
Bahrain race moves more than 6,000 kilometres east
The Bahrain Grand Prix was originally due to be held in April at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. The FIA and Formula 1 announced on 14 March that the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia would not take place on their scheduled April dates because of continuing instability in the Middle East. According to the official statement, the safety and well-being of drivers, team members, officials, volunteers and spectators were placed above sporting and commercial interests in that decision.
No replacement races were planned for April at the time, creating a gap of several weeks in the calendar between the Japanese Grand Prix and the race in Miami. Over the following months, Formula 1 considered options for preserving at least one of the two lost events. A final solution was found in cooperation with Malaysia, whose permanent circuit at Sepang is technically equipped for the highest level of international motorsport and occupies a favourable position in the calendar immediately before Singapore.
The agreement allows Bahrain to retain the identity of its race in the 2026 season, even though the competition will not take place on its territory. In its official announcement, the FIA states that the arrangement recognises Bahrain's place on the calendar and its long-term connection with Formula 1, which dates back to the first Bahrain race in 2004. At the same time, Malaysia assumes the practical responsibilities of the host and must prepare the circuit, security services, traffic organisation, accommodation capacity and operational infrastructure for one of the world's largest sporting events at very short notice.
Provided all conditions are met, Sepang will become the 23rd race of the season, compared with the originally planned 24, because the Saudi race currently has no confirmed replacement date. The official calendar published before the start of the season included 24 events, but the absence of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April reduced the total to 22 races. The Malaysian weekend restores one of them, while the FIA and Formula 1 had not announced any other changes at the time of publication.
Political agreement and an unusual event name
The FIA, Formula One Management, the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia and representatives of the two national circuits participated in preparing the arrangement. The FIA also cited the support of Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim and Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that his country accepts the role of host and views the cooperation as an expression of political trust and partnership between the two countries.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said that the safety of everyone involved in the championship remained the priority throughout the negotiations. He also described the return to Sepang as the result of the FIA's cooperation with the Motorsports Association of Malaysia and the support of the Malaysian government. Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali emphasised that the agreement demonstrates the championship's ability to adapt the calendar quickly when circumstances beyond the organisers' control arise.
The race name is likely to attract as much attention as Sepang's return itself. Under the usual model, a Grand Prix bears the name of the country or city in which it is held, with the addition of a commercial partner. This time, the geographical location and official identity are not the same: it is a Bahrain race being held in Malaysia. In this way, the FIA and Formula 1 are seeking to preserve the continuity of the Bahrain event, while Malaysia appears as the host that made the weekend possible under exceptional circumstances.
Such a name does not automatically mean that the Malaysian Grand Prix is returning permanently to the calendar. The current agreement applies to the 2026 season and to the replacement organisation of the Bahrain race. No multi-year contract for a separate Malaysian Grand Prix has been announced, nor have Formula 1 and Sepang confirmed that the circuit will remain in the championship after October. Sepang's long-term status will therefore depend on commercial negotiations, political support, organisational costs and the results of this exceptional event.
Three consecutive weekends from Baku through Sepang to Singapore
The inclusion of Malaysia creates a sequence of three races over three consecutive weekends. After Azerbaijan, the teams will transfer their cars and equipment from Baku to Sepang and then continue to Singapore. Such a schedule increases the workload on mechanics, engineers, logistics teams and other personnel, but the geographical proximity of Malaysia and Singapore makes the final part of the journey easier than in a scenario where the replacement race was organised on another continent.
For Sepang, the early-October date is familiar from Formula 1's previous period at the circuit. The last Malaysian Grand Prix was held on 1 October 2017 and was won by Max Verstappen for Red Bull. Nine years later, the main race of the new weekend is again expected to be held in early October, during a period of the year in which high temperatures, intense humidity and the possibility of heavy downpours are important factors for strategy and safety.
Formula 1 specifically highlighted unpredictable weather as one of Sepang's characteristics in its official announcement. Tropical rainfall at the circuit has previously been known to change the course of a weekend suddenly, complicate tyre selection and reduce visibility. Teams will therefore have to prepare for a wider range of possible car setups, from a dry and extremely hot surface to conditions involving a large amount of water over a short period.
The schedule will also be demanding for the organisers of the two neighbouring Asian races, as a large number of fans, sponsors and business guests will travel between Malaysia and Singapore within a short period. At the same time, this sequence could increase Southeast Asia's international visibility during the final phase of the championship. Formula 1 will have two very different events in close proximity: a daytime race on the wide permanent circuit at Sepang and a night-time street race through the streets of Singapore.
Sepang was a permanent Formula 1 venue from 1999 to 2017
Sepang International Circuit opened in 1999 and hosted the Formula 1 World Championship for the first time that same year. Eddie Irvine won the inaugural race on 17 October in a Ferrari, while Michael Schumacher returned to competition after injury and played an important role in the team's strategy. The circuit then remained on the calendar every season until 2017, meaning that Malaysia organised 19 consecutive editions of its Grand Prix.
During that period, Sepang built a reputation as a technically demanding circuit with a combination of long straights, slow corners and rapid changes of direction. The circuit's official data lists a length of 5.543 kilometres, 15 corners and eight straights. The historical race configuration consisted of 56 laps, or slightly more than 310 kilometres of total racing distance.
The most successful driver in the history of the Malaysian race is Sebastian Vettel, with four victories. Fernando Alonso won three times, including the 2012 race in changing weather conditions, while Lewis Hamilton secured five pole positions. The final edition in 2017 went to Verstappen, who finished ahead of Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo.
The circuit is also known for its significant physical demands. Heat and humidity increase the strain on drivers, while high temperatures affect the cooling of power units, brakes and other systems. The long straights create overtaking opportunities, while the wide circuit allows multiple lines through certain corners. At the same time, a change in the weather can transform a dry race into a complex strategic battle within minutes.
The return will also have a special sporting dimension because some current drivers have never competed in Formula 1 at Sepang. Teams will rely on old data, modern simulators and new inspection information, but the cars built under the 2026 technical regulations differ substantially from those that raced there nine years earlier. Historical experience will therefore not be sufficient on its own, and adaptation to the new surface, tyres and energy requirements could define the opening practice sessions.
A return that until recently seemed unlikely
Malaysia left Formula 1 after 2017 because of the relationship between costs and economic returns. The authorities at the time concluded that the benefit to the country had declined compared with the cost of organising the event, while public interest and ticket sales were weaker than in previous years. A return was occasionally discussed in the years following the departure, but no confirmed financial model existed.
As recently as August 2025, Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh told parliament that the country had no plans to host Formula 1 again because of high hosting fees, the cost of preparing the facility and the crowded international calendar. At the same time, the management of Sepang International Circuit stressed that a return would require substantial funding, coordination between several ministries and support from private partners. The agreement for 2026 therefore represents a significant reversal, but also a special case created by an extraordinary disruption to the calendar.
The Malaysian government is now presenting the return as proof of the country's ability to organise a major international event quickly. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasised the infrastructure, operational experience and the country's readiness to welcome teams and fans from around the world. For Malaysia, the event brings global television exposure and the possibility of increased demand for hotels, air transport, hospitality and other tourism services, although an official assessment of costs and the expected economic impact has not yet been published.
An important advantage of Sepang is its proximity to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which simplifies the arrival of freight and large numbers of passengers. The circuit is located in the state of Selangor, south of the capital, Kuala Lumpur. The infrastructure continued to host major international competitions after Formula 1's departure, including the Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix, so the complex did not have to be re-established from the beginning.
Final approval, tickets and operational details are still to come
Although the FIA and Formula 1 announcement was presented as confirmation of the return, the legal and regulatory process has not yet been fully completed. Final contracts must be concluded and official approval obtained from the World Motor Sport Council, the body responsible for confirming the calendars of FIA championships. Until that process is completed, the event has a confirmed political and organisational framework but remains formally conditional.
At the time of the announcement, ticket prices, the sales launch date, the support-series schedule and the detailed weekend timetable were not known. Formula 1 stated that ticket information would be announced at a later date. It has also not been confirmed whether Formula 2, Formula 3 or F1 Academy races will be held alongside Formula 1 at Sepang, after their originally planned Bahrain appearances were also affected by the April schedule change.
In a little more than two months, the organisers will have to complete preparations that are normally planned much further in advance for regular races. This includes checking safety systems, communications infrastructure, medical services, areas for teams and the media, as well as traffic and crowd-control plans. The circuit has many years of experience, but Formula 1 has changed considerably in technical, commercial and organisational terms since 2017, so parts of the infrastructure and procedures will have to be adapted to current standards.
For the championship, the most important aspect is that the confirmed solution retains a major race in the autumn part of the season without changing the other dates. For Bahrain, it is a way to remain present on the calendar despite being unable to organise the event in Sakhir. For Malaysia, it is an unexpected opportunity to return to Formula 1's world stage after nine years and reassess whether a sustainable basis exists for a longer-term return.
Sepang will therefore be both a familiar venue and a completely new challenge in October. The circuit's history, tropical climate and generation of new cars create conditions for a race that could differ significantly in sporting character from Bahrain, even though it will carry its name. Final confirmation by the World Motor Sport Council remains the last formal step before the unusual agreement between the two countries becomes one of the most memorable events of the 2026 season.
Sources:
- FIA – official confirmation that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix from 2 to 4 October 2026, including statements from key political and sporting figures (link)
- Formula 1 – official announcement regarding the event name, conditions for final approval, its position on the calendar and the forthcoming release of ticket information (link)
- FIA – announcement dated 14 March 2026 regarding the cancellation of the scheduled April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia because of the situation in the Middle East (link)
- Formula 1 – official 2026 season calendar with the dates of the races in Azerbaijan and Singapore (link)
- Sepang International Circuit – official data on the circuit's length, number of corners, straights and the location of the complex (link)
- Formula 1 – official results from the final Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017 (link)
- Bernama – reports on the reasons for Malaysia's previous departure from Formula 1 and estimates of the costs of a possible return (link)
- Formula 1 – historical overview of Sepang, information about the first race in 1999 and statistics on race winners and pole positions (link)