F1 set for Sepang return as Bahrain GP moves to Malaysia
Formula 1 will stage the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia this weekend, with Sepang hosting an F1 race for the first time since 2017. Drivers are expecting unusual conditions and an unpredictable event, with several describing the return as likely to bring unknowns and potentially chaotic racing.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia is the middle event of Formula 1’s current triple-header and round 16 of the 2026 season. It will mark F1’s first race in the country since 2017, after Bahrain’s original grand prix was cancelled earlier this year because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Much of the focus is on Sepang’s return to the calendar after such a long absence. Multiple outlets highlighted that drivers expect the weekend to feel different from previous races there, with unknown factors and the possibility of chaotic racing featuring prominently in the build-up.
The event has therefore become notable both for its unusual relocation and for the uncertainty surrounding how the race will unfold. Ahead of the weekend, attention is centred on what F1’s long-awaited return to Sepang will produce.
In this story
Sources (3)
Summaries are synthesized by F1 Hub from the linked sources. Follow the links above to read the full reporting at each outlet.