F1 Confirms Malaysia Comeback As Bahrain Grand Prix Officially Moves To Sepang

Published 26 July 2026 · sports

F1 Confirms Malaysia Comeback As Bahrain Grand Prix Officially Moves To Sepang Published By, Last Updated: July 26, 2026, 17:09 IST Formula 1 has confirmed

F1 Confirms Malaysia Comeback As Bahrain Grand Prix Officially Moves To Sepang Published By, Last Updated: July 26, 2026, 17:09 IST Formula 1 has confirmed Sepang's return to the calendar, with Malaysia set to host the Bahrain Grand Prix in October 2026 following disruptions in the Middle East. Rapid Read (Credit: F1 Media) Formula 1 is officially heading back to Malaysia. The sport and the FIA have confirmed that Sepang International Circuit will host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia from October 2-4, 2026, marking the country’s first F1 race since 2017. The event, which remains subject to final contractual agreements and approval from the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council, will slot into the calendar between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix. The rest of the 2026 schedule remains unchanged.

The decision comes after Bahrain’s original race was postponed because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with Formula 1 opting to relocate the event rather than lose it altogether. Sepang Returns To F1 Calendar Sepang, which first hosted Formula 1 in 1999, is regarded as one of the sport’s most demanding venues, combining high-speed corners, tropical heat and unpredictable weather. Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali welcomed the return of the Malaysian circuit. “We are delighted to confirm that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026," Domenicali said. “Once again, the sport has demonstrated its ability to adapt, find solutions, and deliver, creating an exciting moment for everyone who follows Formula 1." The agreement was reached between Formula 1, the FIA, and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia, ensuring the championship retains a race that would otherwise have been cancelled.

Ticketing details for the event are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Middle East Conflict Reshapes Calendar The revised schedule is one of several changes forced by the ongoing instability in the Middle East. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia’s April races were postponed earlier this year after the conflict escalated. Formula 1 initially hoped Bahrain could be rescheduled later in the season, but logistical deadlines and continued uncertainty prompted organisers to move the race to Malaysia instead. Questions also remain over the season-ending Grands Prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, currently scheduled for late November and early December. Formula 1 is expected to make a decision on those events in September. Should further changes become necessary, Italy’s Imola is considered the leading replacement venue, while Portugal’s Portimão and Turkey’s Istanbul Park remain contingency options.