Formula 1 has not raced at Sepang since Max Verstappen won there in October 2017, and it was not supposed to race there in 2026 either. The round scheduled for Bahrain was relocated to Malaysia during the season, retaining the Bahrain Grand Prix name on the official calendar, and a circuit that most of the current grid has never driven in a Formula 1 car returns as round 16 on Sunday 4 October. For fans of a certain age it is a homecoming. For the drivers it is a new circuit with an old reputation.

Why the race is here

The relocation is unusual. The 2026 calendar published before the season listed Bahrain as normal, and the switch to Sepang came with the FIA saying it would not “jump the gun” on decisions about the remaining Middle Eastern rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Malaysia had the facility, the experience and the willingness to host at short notice, having run the Grand Prix for 19 years from 1999. The Bahrain title stays on the entry lists because that is how the commercial agreements are structured. Everyone else is calling it the Malaysian Grand Prix, and our explainer on the relocation covers the background.

The layout

Sepang was Hermann Tilke’s first full Formula 1 design, and it set the template for two decades of circuits: 5.543km, 15 corners, two long straights running in opposite directions either side of a vast double-sided grandstand, and a lap that mixes long-radius sweeps with slow hairpins. Turns 5 and 6 are a fast left-right that rewards commitment. Turns 7 and 8 are a pair of long rights where the cars are loaded for several seconds. The back straight into the turn 15 hairpin, and the main straight into turn 1, give two proper overtaking zones a few hundred metres apart, so a driver passed at one can retake the place at the next.

The weather

Sepang sits a few miles from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, near the equator, and the weather is the circuit’s defining feature. Track temperatures above 60C are routine and afternoon storms are close to a certainty. The 2009 race was stopped by a monsoon with half points awarded. The 2001 race saw Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello spin off together on lap three and recover to finish first and second. Teams will be watching the radar on Sunday afternoon as closely as the timing screens, and the intermediate tyre crossover call could decide the race.

The 2026 cars at Sepang

Heat is the problem. The 2026 power units lose electrical performance as battery temperatures climb, and a heat hazard declaration of the kind issued at Monza is likely. Cooling configurations are locked at qualifying under parc fermé, so a team that guesses wrong on Saturday could watch its engine derate on Sunday. The two long straights, meanwhile, will show the Mercedes engine advantage as clearly as Baku did, though the long fast corners give a strong chassis somewhere to win back time.

Sepang classics

Alonso’s first win for Renault came here in 2003. Vettel won the first race of 2015 for Ferrari to end Mercedes’ expected walkover. Verstappen’s 2017 victory was the last, and the circuit’s final Grand Prix ended with Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll colliding on the cool-down lap. Whether the 2026 return is a one-off or the start of something longer depends on how the Middle East situation resolves and how the weekend goes. Malaysia would like it to be permanent.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?

The 2026 round was relocated to Sepang while keeping its official title. The FIA said it would not rush decisions on other Middle East rounds.

When did F1 last race at Sepang?

2017, when Verstappen won. The race was dropped after 19 editions over costs and attendance.

How long is the circuit?

5.543km with 15 corners and two long straights.

When is the 2026 race?

Sunday 4 October 2026 at 8am UK time.