Nearly a decade after Formula 1 last raced in Malaysia, Sepang International Circuit is poised to welcome the championship back. Subject to final agreements and approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the circuit is scheduled to host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on 4 October 2026, bringing the sport back to one of its most celebrated venues.
The one-off arrangement follows changes to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar and will see the Bahrain Grand Prix staged at Sepang while retaining its official title. If confirmed, it would mark Formula 1’s first appearance in Malaysia since 2017, when Max Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull Racing in what proved to be the circuit’s final race before its departure from the calendar.
One Of Formula 1’s Most Iconic Circuits
Since making its Formula 1 debut in 1999, Sepang has earned a reputation as one of the championship’s defining modern circuits. Its 5.5-kilometre layout combines long straights, sweeping high-speed corners and technical hairpins, while Malaysia’s tropical climate has frequently transformed races with sudden downpours and unpredictable strategy.
Over 19 consecutive Grands Prix, the circuit became a favourite among drivers and fans, producing memorable battles and cementing its place as one of Formula 1’s most recognisable venues.
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali described the proposed return as an exciting development for the championship, noting that the revised calendar demonstrates the sport’s ability to adapt while maintaining a full season. He also acknowledged the support of the governments and royal leadership of Bahrain and Malaysia, together with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, in facilitating the arrangement.
A Welcome Return For Malaysian Motorsport
Should the event receive final approval, the race would represent more than a temporary addition to the calendar. It would reunite Malaysian fans with the pinnacle of motorsport after a nine-year absence and once again place Sepang at the centre of the Formula 1 world.
The proposed race also creates a unique Southeast Asian swing, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix preceding Sepang on 26 September, before the championship heads to the Singapore Grand Prix on 11 October.
For a generation of fans who grew up watching Formula 1 under Sepang’s unpredictable skies, the prospect of seeing the world’s fastest drivers return—even for a single race—would mark one of the most significant moments in Malaysian motorsport in recent years.
(Main Image: Red Bull Content Pool)
