Bahrain Grand Prix moves to Malaysia: Race at Sepang from October 2 to 4
Formula 1 and the FIA have announced the relocation of the canceled Bahrain Grand Prix to Malaysia's Sepang circuit, while the end of the season remains in question.
Formula 1 and the FIA have announced the relocation of the canceled Bahrain Grand Prix to Malaysia's Sepang circuit, while the end of the season remains in question.
Formula 1 and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced on Sunday, July 26, that the Bahrain Grand Prix, canceled in April due to the war in the Middle East, will be held at Malaysia's Sepang circuit from October 2 to 4, 2026. The Malaysian government has given approval for the race, and the event is scheduled between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (September 26) and the Singapore Grand Prix (October 11).
The Bahrain Grand Prix was originally scheduled for April, but was canceled due to the escalation of the conflict in the region. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, scheduled for Jeddah, suffered the same fate; it was not relocated and has definitively dropped out of the calendar. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali indicated in early July the possibility that the Gulf race could still be held on October 4, but the continuation of hostilities between Iran and the United States in recent weeks ruled out that option and forced the governing bodies to seek an alternative location.
Malaysia quickly emerged as an ideal solution from both a logistical and sporting perspective, primarily due to its proximity to Singapore. The Sepang circuit, located next to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, hosted 19 Formula 1 Grands Prix between 1999 and 2017 and is therefore technically and organizationally fully prepared for the return of the most prestigious category of motorsport. The circuit has also regularly hosted the MotoGP Grand Prix since 1999, meaning local authorities are accustomed to organizing major international events, which was an encouraging factor for F1 and the FIA in making the decision.
"The Bahrain Grand Prix cannot be held in Bahrain, and the Malaysian government has given approval for it to be held at the Sepang circuit from October 2 to 4," the governing bodies stated in a press release.
Despite the relocation, the race will retain its Bahraini identity. F1 explained that the event will be called "Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain in Malaysia" because the Gulf kingdom, according to F1, will "cover a large part of the costs associated with the late organization of the race at this circuit." Thus, Bahrain retains a sponsorship and symbolic presence in the calendar, while Malaysia takes on the role of host. This race becomes the 23rd on the 2026 calendar, instead of the originally planned 24th, since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was not relocated.
While the issue of the Bahrain race has been resolved, the end of the season remains uncertain. The last two races on the calendar, the Qatar Grand Prix (November 29) and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the United Arab Emirates (December 6), could also be canceled due to the security situation in the region. Several replacement options are on the table: holding two consecutive Grands Prix in Las Vegas at the end of November, or one or two final races in Europe, with the Imola circuit in Italy and Portimão in Portugal mentioned as favorites. A final decision on these races is not expected before the end of September or early October, as F1 and the FIA prefer to wait for the geopolitical situation to develop before reaching a conclusion.
