CONFIRMED: Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit to host…Bahrain GP in October

Last week, we reported that Malaysia and its famed Sepang International Circuit were highly likely to make a “surprise return” to Formula 1, to replace the Bahrain GP that was set to take place in October thanks to the Middle East conflict.

Now, this news is pretty much official as Formula 1 and the FIA confirmed last night that Malaysia will be hosting the, er, Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit from October 2 to 4, 2026, in between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and Singapore Grand Prix.

This decision was made to “preserve a Grand Prix that would otherwise not have happened” after an agreement between the two motorsports boards, the Government of Bahrain, and the Government of Malaysia. Now, this isn’t the first time that Formula 1 has done this odd name-swap, with a notable example being the 1982 Swiss Grand Prix being held in France.

Regarded as one of the more beloved circuits in motorsports, Sepang made its debut as a Formula 1 venue back in 1999, with its last race taking place in 2017, with a significantly younger Max Verstappen taking the win, and iconic moments such as the very wet 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix, 2013’s Multi 21, and Lewis Hamilton’s third title hopes going up in smoke back in 2016.

It’s also known for its dramatic weather, especially with the race being held at the start of the monsoon season. Now, we don’t know how well the current regulation cars will hold up on this circuit, especially with its long back straights, nor have we seen a Formula 1 race as wet as the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Regardless, this is going to be a very exciting race, especially for those who live in Southeast Asia, so if you’ve got the time and spare pocket money, it’s the best time to book your tickets live. Since there’s no confirmation of whether this change will be a multi-year deal, it’s safe to assume this will be a one-off, unless it does very well to convince Formula 1 to stay in Malaysia for the following years.

^{Photos by Red Bull Racing, Formula 1}