Sepang to Host October Race
Formula 1 has officially added the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia to the 2026 calendar. The venue will host the Bahrain Grand Prix from October 2-4, filling the vacancy left by the postponement of the original event due to ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East. While the race will take place in Malaysia, it will retain the title of the Bahrain Grand Prix, as the Gulf state continues to provide the necessary event funding.
The addition creates a logistical triple-header, placing the race between the rounds in Baku and Singapore. This move, which marks Malaysia's first F1 event since 2017, is currently awaiting final ratification from the World Motor Sport Council, a process expected to be a formality.
Calendar Stability and Future Risks
The inclusion of Malaysia brings the 2026 schedule to 23 races. However, the inability to host the event in the Middle East has cast doubt on the viability of the season's final two rounds in Qatar (November 27-29) and Abu Dhabi (December 4-6). While Formula 1 leadership maintains that the remainder of the schedule is unchanged, the rapid pivot to Sepang demonstrates a clear contingency strategy for further calendar disruptions.
Should additional replacements be required, industry reports indicate that the Imola circuit in Italy, as well as venues in Portugal and Turkey, are currently under consideration. The sport is scheduled to resume following the summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix from August 21-23.
The winning car's final stint concluded with a tire degradation percentage of 14.2%.