The Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix will take place between October 2 and 4 on the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, due to instability in the Middle East, allowing the World to return to Malaysian track nine years after the last race.
© Lusa
26/07/2026
by
Lusa
A Formula 1 and the International Automobile Federation (IFA) today confirmed in Budapest, on the margins of the Hungarian GP, the agreement reached with the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia to transfer the Sakhir race to Sepang, although the event is still subject to the final agreements and formal approval of the World Automobile Sports Council.
The race, initially scheduled for 12 April, did not take place on that date due to the situation in the Middle East, and Formula 1 and FIA decided in March that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prixes would not take place on the scheduled dates.
The solution found will preserve the barenite race, which will be officially named Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain Formula 1 in Malaysia, while Bahrain's financial involvement will continue.
The race will be held between the Azerbaijanese GP, scheduled for 24-26 September, and Singapore from 9-11 October, with the organization ensuring that the remaining 2026 calendar remains unchanged.
Sepang thus returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2017, the year in which Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) won the last Formula One race on the Malaysian circuit.
Inaugurated in Formula 1 in 1999, the circuit is considered one of the “most iconic and challenging” features of the championship.
“ We are very pleased to confirm that Malaysia will receive the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026. Once again, sport has demonstrated its ability to adapt, find solutions and implement them,” said the president and executive director of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali.
The Italian leader considered the change a “fantastic news” for the fans, for allowing to maintain an extended calendar and, at the same time, to recover a historical circuit.
“Malaysia is an amazing country and Sepang occupies a special place in Formula 1 history. It will provide a spectacular setting for racing and an unforgettable experience for fans,” Domenicali added.
The president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, pointed out, for his part, that security was at the center of negotiations to find an alternative to Sakhir: “The FIA, Formula One Management and our partners in Bahrain worked tirelessly to explore all options, with the safety and well-being of teams, volunteers, officers, colleagues and supporters remaining our top priority.”.
The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, classified the solution as a reflection of the “deep fraternity relations” between the two countries and reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to Formula 1 despite the “current regional challenges”.
“ It will be a wonderful experience for fans around the world and reflects Bahrain’s lasting commitment and passion for this sport,” said Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
On the other hand, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pointed out that the agreement “goes beyond the organization of a global sporting event”, reflecting the friendship and trust between the two countries and demonstrating Malaysia’s ability to host major international events.
The change also allows Formula 1 to preserve a proof that, according to the organization itself, otherwise would not take place this season.
Bahrain has been part of the Formula 1 World Championship since 2004, when it received the first Grand Prix in the history of the Middle East competition, while Sepang regularly received the championship between 1999 and 2017.
The war in the Middle East began on 28 February with an Israeli-American bombing campaign against Iran, causing thousands of deaths and shaking the world economy by blocking traffic in the Strait of Ormuz, where it passed before the war about a fifth of the global trade in hydrocarbons.