Malaysian Grand Prix Returns to the F1 Calendar for 2026

Formula 1 announced on Sunday that the Malaysian Grand Prix is back on the 2026 schedule – but not under its usual name. In a curious twist, the race will be billed as the “Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia,” a compromise forged between the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia.

Mark your calendars for October 4, when the Sepang International Circuit will sit between the Azerbaijan and Singapore rounds, forming a three‑race triple‑header that stretches from late September into early October. In total, the season will now feature three such clusters, nine races packed into an eleven‑week sprint that concludes in Abu Dhabi on December 6.

The move is largely a reaction to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which forced the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix that were slated for April. With those slots suddenly vacant, F1 scrambled for a quick fix. Malaysia, with its proximity to Singapore – just about an hour’s flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport – emerged as a logistically sensible stand‑in.

Fans will recognize Sepang from its previous stint on the calendar (1999‑2017). The last race there was won by Max Verstappen in 2017, and the track has stayed busy hosting MotoGP since then, except for the pandemic‑forced hiatus in 2020‑21. Its 3.4‑mile layout, famous for two long straights and sweeping corners, still thrills drivers and riders alike.

There’s still a cloud of uncertainty, though. The Qatar Grand Prix, set for Nov. 29, and the season finale in Abu Dhabi both hinge on how the regional situation evolves. Team principals, like Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur, have voiced a mix of optimism and caution, noting the logistical headaches – rerouting freight, adjusting the cost cap, and meeting prize‑money clauses tied to a minimum race count.

For now, though, the message from the FIA and FOM is clear: they’re working hard to keep the show on the road. And for a sport that thrives on spectacle, the promise of high‑speed drama back at Sepang – even under a hybrid name – is a welcome sign that the calendar is healing, one race at a time.