Sepang returned to the Formula 1 calendar, but under an unexpected name: the Bahrain Grand Prix. Nine years after the last race in Malaysia, the fast, flowing circuit was set to host a round of the 2026 F1 World Championship on 2–4 October. It was a return that gave longtime fans a familiar favourite and newer fans a first chance to see the current grid take on one of the sport’s most admired modern tracks.
The race was originally scheduled to take place at Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit in April, but conflict in the Middle East prevented it from going ahead. An agreement between Bahrain, Malaysia, Formula 1 and the FIA gave the Grand Prix a new home at Sepang, placing it between the Azerbaijan and Singapore rounds. The venue had changed; the Bahrain Grand Prix name remained.
Sepang’s appeal goes well beyond nostalgia. Its sweeping corners reward commitment, its long straights create chances to race, and its tropical weather can change the contest in minutes. Max Verstappen won here for Red Bull when Malaysia last hosted F1 in 2017. Now the circuit got another chance to show why so many drivers and fans wanted it back.
Race Guide
Season: 2026 F1 World Championship
Race date: Sunday, 4 October 2026
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Sepang International Circuit
Laps: 56
Circuit length: 5.543 km (3.444 mi)
| Pole position | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | TBC | TBC | |
| Time | TBC | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | TBC | TBC | |
| Time | TBC | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | TBC | TBC | |
| Second | TBC | TBC | |
| Third | TBC | TBC | |
Sepang was a circuit built for Formula 1 cars to stretch their legs. Its 3.44 miles and 15 corners demand aerodynamic grip through long, fast bends, then give drivers room to attack under braking. When it opened in 1999, Hermann Tilke’s design helped set the template for a new generation of purpose-built Grand Prix venues. More than a quarter-century later, the lap remains a serious test.
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The speed builds through the sweeping Turn Three before drivers brake for Turn Four. Then comes the quick change of direction through Turns Five and Six, where balance and confidence matter as much as outright pace. Sepang asks teams to find a car that feels secure in those fast sequences without giving away speed on its long straights.
The final sector brings another set of flowing, technical corners before the back straight offers a chance to close in. At its end, the tight Turn 15 hairpin creates a clear overtaking opportunity and sets up the run down the main straight. That blend of committed corners and heavy braking is why drivers enjoy the challenge and why Sepang can produce a race worth watching all the way to the flag.
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2 October 2026 | Free Practice 1 (FP1) | 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm local time |
| 2 October 2026 | Free Practice 2 (FP2) | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm local time |
| 3 October 2026 | Free Practice 3 (FP3) | 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm local time |
| 3 October 2026 | Qualifying | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm local time |
| 4 October 2026 | Race | 3:00 pm local time |
Championship background
Sepang became the middle stop in the season’s first flyaway triple header, and the title fight arrived with fresh momentum. George Russell won in Baku by just 0.196 seconds from Max Verstappen, ending a run without a victory and cutting into Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead. Antonelli recovered to fifth after crashing in qualifying, but his advantage was down to 66 points with eight rounds remaining.
Lewis Hamilton sat 103 points behind Antonelli, with Lando Norris a further 13 back after retiring in Azerbaijan. McLaren would hope Sepang’s fast corners played to its strengths, but Russell had the more immediate opportunity: turn one emphatic weekend in Baku into sustained pressure on the championship leader.
Race entries
The lineup of drivers and teams remained the same as the 2026 season’s entry list, featuring no reserve drivers for the race.
Tyre choices
More to follow…
FIND OUT MORE
Free Practice
More to follow…
Free Practice 1 Classification
2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia FP1, 2 October 2026
Results to follow…
Free Practice 2 Classification
2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia FP2, 2 October 2026
Results to follow…
Free Practice 3 Classification
2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia FP3, 3 October 2026
Results to follow…
Qualifying
Full report post-session.
Full Qualifying Report
Qualifying Classification
2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia Qualifying, 3 October 2026
Results to follow…
What happened in the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
More to follow…
2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia race results
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia Race was held on 4 October 2026 at 3:00 pm local time.
Results to follow…
2026 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings for Drivers’ and Teams after the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
2026 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings
Results to follow…
2026 Post-Race F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings
Results to follow…
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