The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will be held at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit from October 2-4. Discover why the race was relocated and what makes Sepang such a demanding F1 venue.
Bahrain is bringing its Formula 1 Grand Prix to Malaysia. The 2026 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be held at the Sepang International Circuit from October 2 to 4, with the race retaining its Bahrain identity despite being staged more than 6,000 kilometres from the country. The unusual arrangement came after Bahrain’s original April race was removed from the calendar, allowing Sepang to host the event for the first time since 2017.
The weekend will run between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grand Prix, with practice on Friday, October 2, qualifying on Saturday, and the 56-lap race on Sunday, October 4. For Formula 1, it is an unusual logistical solution. For Sepang, it is an opportunity to return to the championship spotlight after years away.
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Why Is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
The Bahrain Grand Prix was originally scheduled for April, alongside the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Both races were subsequently removed from that part of the calendar because of the regional situation, leaving Formula 1 to find a way to preserve the Bahrain event later in the season. Formula 1 and the FIA announced in July that Sepang would host the Bahrain Grand Prix from October 2-4. The event was officially designated the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, preserving Bahrain’s place on the 2026 schedule while bringing the race to one of Malaysia’s most recognisable circuits.
The weekend will also carry elements of Bahrain beyond the racing itself. Organisers have planned a Bahrain Village featuring food, handicrafts, and cultural activities, while entertainment and other fan attractions will run around the circuit. But once the cars leave the garages, this will feel unmistakably like Sepang.
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Why Is Sepang Such an Interesting Test?
Sepang does not need an introduction to Formula 1 veterans. The 5.543-kilometre circuit first joined the calendar in 1999 and quickly became one of the sport’s distinctive venues. Its layout is unusually wide, with long straights, heavy braking zones, and fast corners that give drivers several opportunities to attack. The final hairpin feeds directly onto the main straight, while the sweeping Turns 5 and 6 demand a different kind of commitment.
Then there is the weather. Sepang’s heat and humidity can already make a Formula 1 car physically demanding to drive. Add the possibility of a tropical downpour, and conditions can change within minutes. The forecast points to temperatures around 31-32°C across the weekend, with a chance of rain during every day of the event.
That uncertainty is particularly relevant because much of the current grid has never raced there. Only 10 of the 22 drivers on the 2026 grid have previous F1 experience at Sepang. Max Verstappen was the winner when Formula 1 last visited in 2017, while Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are among the other current drivers with victories at the circuit. The teams also have no testing data from the current generation of cars at Sepang, making Friday’s running especially important.
That creates an unusual situation. Some drivers have memories of racing around Sepang in junior categories or on simulators, while others are about to discover the circuit at Formula 1 speeds for the first time. Even George Russell, fresh from winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, has never driven an F1 car around the Malaysian track. He has, however, spoken about playing Sepang on a PlayStation during his childhood. The result is a race carrying Bahrain’s name but presenting the drivers with a distinctly Malaysian challenge: heat, humidity, long straights, demanding corners, and the constant possibility of rain. After several years away from the calendar, Sepang now has another Formula 1 race on its hands. Could the circuit’s unique combination of speed and unpredictable weather produce one of the most intriguing weekends of the 2026 season?
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