SEPANG — After almost a decade in the wilderness, Formula 1 (F1) roars back into Malaysia this weekend but not quite in the way anyone expected.
Instead of the familiar Malaysian Grand Prix (GP), Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026 from October 2 to 4, turning the iconic Malaysian circuit into the temporary home of Bahrain’s biggest motorsport event.
This came after Formula 1 confirmed Malaysia as host of the upcoming Gulf Air Bahrain GP, following an agreement between Formula 1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and governments of Malaysia and Bahrain, in July.
The agreement keeps the Bahrain GP on the 2026 F1 calendar after the race had been cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
As SIC is renowned for producing unpredictable races, dramatic weather and memorable championship moments, the timing could hardly be more intriguing.
Since the Malaysian GP was dropped from the F1 calendar after the 2017 season, the sport has undergone a remarkable transformation, with its global fanbase expanding significantly following the launch of Netflix’s Drive to Survive series in 2019.
The series has introduced F1 to a new generation of fans by offering an inside look at the drivers, teams and rivalries behind the sport, helping to broaden its appeal beyond traditional motorsport audiences.
The renewed excitement is also reflected in ticket sales, with around 95,000 three-day passes already sold for the October 2-4 race weekend as SIC targets the 100,000 mark.
Tickets for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026 are sold as three-day passes only with no single-day tickets available for purchase.
Should sales reach 100,000, it would mark a significant turnout for SIC, with the circuit’s highest attendance for an F1 event was recorded during the 2008 Malaysian GP, which attracted 126,690 spectators over the three-day weekend.
Meanwhile, SIC itself could have a major say in how the race unfolds.
