Malaysia’s Sepang circuit considered for vacant F1 spot
Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit has emerged as the leading candidate to fill a vacant slot on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, according to multiple sources, reports BritPanorama.
The venue near Kuala Lumpur is being considered as a replacement for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is now unlikely to be rescheduled this year. Proposed for 4 October, it would sit between the Azerbaijan race on 26 September and the Singapore Grand Prix on 11 October.
Several circuits have reportedly put themselves forward as potential stand-ins, but Sepang is understood to have the strongest case. A final decision could come as soon as this weekend, with F1 entering its mid-season break after the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, necessitating prompt logistical arrangements.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds were initially scheduled for 12 and 19 April, respectively. Both were scrapped following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Retaliatory attacks on Gulf states have rendered staging races in either country far too dangerous.
Saudi Arabia’s event will not return this season. While Bahrain had previously hoped to secure a later date, prospects have notably diminished. Renewed clashes between Washington and Tehran have reignited instability across the region, with Bahrain experiencing missile strikes attributed to Iranian forces in recent days. The deteriorating security situation has rendered rescheduling the grand prix there nearly impossible.
Sepang’s geographical position makes it a particularly logical choice. The circuit lies less than an hour’s flight from Singapore, alleviating the need for the paddock to make a lengthy return trip to Europe after the Baku round. The track still holds the FIA’s top-tier Grade 1 licence required for hosting grand prix racing and continues to stage major international motorsport events, including MotoGP.
Having been a fixture on the calendar from 1999 to 2017, the Malaysian Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen claim victory in its final edition. The race dropped off the schedule due to concerns regarding financial viability. Despite this, Sepang remains well-regarded by both competitors and spectators. Its association with Petronas, a long-standing title sponsor of the Mercedes team, adds further weight to any potential return.
The Istanbul Park circuit in Turkey is another strong contender for the 4 October date. Its location between Europe and Asia makes it geographically suitable, with the venue already contracted to rejoin the F1 calendar in 2027, potentially facilitating better preparedness for a grand prix at short notice.
The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council is set to convene this weekend to decide on Middle Eastern rounds for the World Endurance Championship. WEC has rescheduled a postponed race in Qatar for October and still plans to hold a Bahrain season finale in November. However, if the governing body cancels these on safety grounds, any remaining prospect of Bahrain hosting F1 this year would effectively vanish, deepening concerns about the final stretch of F1’s own calendar.
As the season progresses, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are slated to host the concluding two grands prix on 29 November and 6 December, but the ongoing regional conflict places both events in jeopardy. F1 has until the end of September to confirm arrangements, as freight deadlines loom.
Should it be necessary to seek alternatives for the season finale, the Portimao circuit in Portugal appears to be the most likely fallback. The Algarve venue stepped in during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and is already slated to return to the calendar in 2027 and 2028.
In the face of uncertainty, Liberty Media chief executive Derek Chang expressed in May that the sport would be “thoughtful in our approach” regarding any rescheduling, adding that potential lost races would “not change our confidence in the sport’s long-term trajectory.”
Amid the swirling variables, the potential return of Sepang adds an intriguing twist, inviting reflection on F1’s intricate interplay with international events — a reminder that in the world of motorsport, logistics and politics are inextricably intertwined.
