Formula 1 will return to the Sepang International Circuit for the first time in nine years after confirming Malaysia will host the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix on October 4. The event will retain its Bahrain Grand Prix title despite being staged in Malaysia, following the postponement of the original race earlier this season due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said:
“We are delighted to confirm that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026. Once again, the sport has demonstrated its ability to adapt in challenging circumstances, and we are grateful to the Malaysian government, Sepang International Circuit and the Bahrain authorities for their cooperation in making this possible.”
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were postponed in April after ongoing security concerns in the region made it impossible for Formula 1 to proceed safely. With no suitable dates available earlier in the season, the championship has now found a solution that preserves its planned 24-race calendar.
The return marks Formula 1’s first visit to Sepang since 2017, when Max Verstappen claimed victory in the final Malaysian Grand Prix. Starting alongside Lewis Hamilton on the front row, Verstappen overtook the Mercedes driver early in the race before taking the chequered flag ahead of Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo.
Malaysia first joined the Formula 1 calendar in 1999 and quickly became one of the championship’s most popular destinations. The combination of high-speed straights, flowing corners and unpredictable tropical weather regularly produced memorable races before the event left the calendar after the 2017 season due to rising hosting costs.
Although the race will be held at Sepang, it will officially remain the Bahrain Grand Prix because the event itself belongs to the Bahrain Grand Prix promoter and its associated commercial agreements. Rather than creating a new Malaysian Grand Prix at short notice, Formula 1, the FIA, and the organisers reached an agreement allowing Bahrain to retain the event’s identity while Malaysia provides the venue. It is an unusual arrangement, but not without precedent.
Formula 1 has previously staged grands prix under the name of one country while racing in another. Between 1981 and 2006, the San Marino Grand Prix was held at Italy’s Imola circuit rather than in the Republic of San Marino. The Luxembourg Grand Prix was contested at Germany’s Nürburgring in 1997 and 1998, while the Swiss Grand Prix was held at France’s Dijon-Prenois circuit after circuit racing was banned in Switzerland.
Rather than reviving the Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang will stage the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix, with the championship points, official event title and commercial identity remaining unchanged.
The race weekend will take place from October 2–4, filling the gap between the Singapore Grand Prix and the United States Grand Prix. The addition also demonstrates Formula 1’s ability to adapt its schedule while maintaining a full championship despite ongoing geopolitical challenges.
The return to Sepang is likely to be welcomed by fans, many of whom regard the circuit as one of the finest on the Formula 1 calendar. Several current drivers also have previous experience racing at the venue, adding another layer of familiarity ahead of its return.
Formula 1 has also confirmed it continues to monitor the situation in the Middle East, with contingency plans in place should further changes to the latter part of the calendar become necessary.
