After nine years away, the F1 track is making a surprising comeback as a replacement for Bahrain on the calendar.
It looks like Malaysia’s Sepang track is set to host an F1 race later this year for the first time since 2017, stepping in for Bahrain. After the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix were cancelled in March due to the conflict in the Middle East, it wasn’t clear if these races would be replaced or if the season would just have 22 races instead of 24.
Now, according to BBC Sport, the Sepang track near Kuala Lumpur will host the race on behalf of the Bahrain Grand Prix from October 2 to 4. F1 has made the decision, though it still needs official approval from the FIA.
Max Verstappen won the last race held at Sepang, with Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo finishing second and third. Adding the Malaysian race means drivers will race for three weeks in a row—starting with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 26, then Malaysia on October 4, followed by the Singapore Grand Prix on October 11.
The Malaysian Grand Prix was known for its hot and humid weather, which made the race pretty challenging. It originally ran from 1963 to 1965 and then came back from 1999 until 2017.
Races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, planned for November and December, are still uncertain because of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US in the Middle East. If those can’t happen, Italy’s Imola track is likely to step in. Portugal’s Portimão and Turkey’s Istanbul Park are also options but are less likely.
F1 hopes to hold at least 21 races in 2026 to avoid breaking contracts with broadcasters or having to return sponsorship money to teams.
One reason the Malaysian race stopped after 2017 was low interest and trouble attracting crowds. But Razlan Razali, the former CEO of Sepang International Circuit, says F1 has grown in Malaysia thanks to the Netflix show Drive to Survive, which brought in many new fans.
He told Malaysian news agency Bernama, “It’s been over five years. If Liberty Media officially asks Sepang to replace a cancelled race, Malaysia should seriously think about it because chances like this don’t happen often.” He also mentioned that ticket prices should be fair due to the short time organizers have to prepare. As for the track and facilities, he believes there won’t be problems as long as F1 and the FIA agree to use what’s already there, since there isn’t enough time for big changes.
The next race on the calendar is in Hungary on Sunday, July 26.