F1's 'Bahrain GP' to be held in Malaysia

F1's 'Bahrain GP' to be held in Malaysia

Formula 1 will return to Malaysia for the first time in nine years as the Bahrain Grand Prix is rescheduled to take place at the Sepang International Circuit on Oct. 4, 2026. The move follows the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, originally set for March and April, as the war between Iran and the United States and Israel escalated.

The event will be slotted between races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, though the arrangement remains subject to approval from the FIA's world motor sport council. Despite the change in venue, the race will retain Bahrain Grand Prix branding. According to reports, the event will be a one-off and will be officially named the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia because the Middle Eastern country will finance the event, as the Sepang circuit lacks the funds to bring F1 back independently.

F1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali stated that the move is fantastic news for our fans and noted that Malaysia is an incredible country, and Sepang holds a special place in Formula 1 history. He expressed thanks to the King and Prime Minister of Malaysia, as well as His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, for their roles in the decision.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the collaboration to host the 2026 race at Sepang was driven by a priority for the safety and wellbeing of the teams, volunteers, officials, our colleagues, and fans. He credited the Motorsports Association of Malaysia and the Malaysian Government for their commitment to the sport.

The distance between the named country and the actual host venue is unprecedented for F1. The two locations are at opposite ends of the Asian continent, separated by around 6000km. However, F1 has a history of naming races for countries other than where they are held:

• The San Marino Grand Prix: Held at Imola in Italy from 1981 to 2006.
• The Swiss Grand Prix: Held at Dijon in France in 1975 and 1982.
• The Luxembourg Grand Prix: Held at the Nurburgring in Germany in 1997 and 1998.
• The European Grand Prix: In 2016, this race was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, which is situated in Asia.

Since last hosting an F1 race in 2017, Malaysia has focused on motorcycle racing. The country has maintained a link to the sport via the state-owned oil company Petronas and its sponsorship of Mercedes.

The decision to move the race raises questions regarding the stability of future events in the Gulf region. F1 still has two scheduled races: the Qatar Grand Prix in November and the season finale in Abu Dhabi in December. It remains unclear if these can proceed as planned without a major change in the security situation.

While F1 has not mentioned the fate of the final two races during the announcement, reports indicate the organization wants to delay a final decision for as long as possible. The Imola circuit in Italy is cited as a leading candidate to host a season finale if it becomes necessary. Imola was part of the calendar from 2020 to 2025, though it missed the 2023 season due to regional flooding.