Big news for motorsport fans, as the infamous Petronas Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is coming back to the 2026 calendar of the Formula 1 (F1) world championship.
This decision was confirmed by Formula 1 and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) yesterday, when Malaysia was selected to host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit from Oct 2 to 4, between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grand Prixes.
Malaysia to Host Bahrain GP
The event, subject to final agreements and an official sign-off—including approval from the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC)—was created through an agreement between Formula 1, the FIA, and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia, which allows Malaysia to host this year’s Bahrain GP.
The race was originally scheduled to take place in April this year but was initially cancelled due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has destabilised the whole region.
In a bid to preserve “a Grand Prix that would otherwise not have happened,” Formula 1 has managed to strike a deal with the Malaysian government to get SIC to host this grand prix instead.
Malaysia was selected as the replacement due to its close proximity to Singapore, for which the following round will take place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit the week after, from Oct 9 to 11, 2026. With this announcement, fans are expecting to witness a triple-header round, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix set to take place a week prior.
Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, 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, find solutions, and deliver, creating an exciting moment for everyone who follows Formula 1.
“I would like to express our sincere thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, as well as their respective governments for making this extraordinary outcome possible through their vision, commitment, and decisive action,” Stefano continued.
Not a ‘Malaysian Grand Prix’?
While Malaysia (and Sepang) was selected to host this grand prix, the official title of this race will instead be known as the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and not the Malaysian Grand Prix.
With this, the Kingdom of Bahrain is said to cover the bulk of the costs in organising this grand prix, while its national airline, Gulf Air, will take title sponsorship of the race.
Still, the return of Malaysia, and the Sepang International Circuit in particular, to this year’s F1 calendar brings joy not only to local enthusiasts but also to the entire global motorsport community in general.
This Hermann Tilke-designed track previously hosted the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix since 1999, with the last edition taking place back in 2017 before the race was removed from F1’s roster due to rising hosting costs and licensing fees.
Throughout its lifespan, SIC has witnessed some of F1’s most memorable moments, including the “Multi 21” incident back in 2013, the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix, which was cut short due to torrential monsoon rain, and many more.
