The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will now be hosted at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, ending a nine-year hiatus.
Bahrain was due to host its 23rd race at the Sakhir International Circuit in April; however, racing will have to wait until at least 2027. It was originally postponed, alongside the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The postponement, and not cancellation, was decided at the time with the possibility of fitting at least one of the two races later in the calendar; however, the continuation of the conflict has forced alternative plans.
Interestingly, it will not be known as the Malaysian Grand Prix, with the official title listed as the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit. This is also because Bahrain is funding the race.
History behind the Malaysia GPLewis Hamilton suffered an engine failure back in 2016, which ultimately cost him the World Championship (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
The Sepang International Circuit was constructed during the 1990s as part of major infrastructure plans from Mahathir Mohamad’s government, and the first Malaysian Grand Prix took place in 1999.
The race in Sepang has been known to feature very heavy rain, famously in 2009 where conditions began dry but heavy rainfall started to appear around lap 19, before it was red-flagged, and ultimately not restarted on lap 33.
It was the first time that the race had been held in the late afternoon, but it backfired because of the lack of light contributing to the race having to be stopped.
Multi-21 and the 2016 title swing
There have also been other historical moments in Sepang, such as the Multi-21 incident in 2013 when Sebastian Vettel disobeyed team orders to pass his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, with the then triple World Champion going on to win the Grand Prix.
2016 also featured a seismic moment, as Lewis Hamilton looked set to regain the lead of the Drivers’ Championship with five races to go ahead of his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, until the defending World Champion’s engine caught fire down the main straight on lap 41, taking him out of the race and causing a 28-point swing. This proved significant as Rosberg claimed his first world title by five points.
2017 was the final Malaysian Grand Prix, with rising costs proving too expensive to keep it running, and it was Max Verstappen who reigned supreme, taking the lead from Hamilton on lap 4 before going on to win by 12.7 seconds for the Dutchman’s second ever Formula One win. It would be interesting to see how he has done since.
Scheduled date
The Grand Prix is expected to take place between the 2nd and the 4th of October, forming a triple header in between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix.
Reaction to the announcement
Embed from Getty Images
President and CEO of Formula One, Stefano Domenicali, shared his delight that the Malaysian Grand Prix was able to return to the calendar.
“We are delighted to confirm that Malaysia will host the Malaysian 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.
“Of course, I would also like to thank FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his partnership and collaboration throughout the process.
“It will provide a spectacular setting for racing and an unforgettable experience for fans at the circuit and watching around the world.”
