Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026

Sepang International Circuit was created in the mid-1990s as the centerpiece of Malaysia’s Vision 2020, an initiative driven by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to modernize the country as part of the Multimedia Super Corridor project. German architect Hermann Tilke was responsible for the design, which was his first Formula 1 track planned from scratch and became a template for numerous subsequent Grand Prix circuits. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on November 1, 1997, with the official opening on March 7, 1999. The first Formula 1 race on the new course south of Kuala Lumpur was held on October 17 of that same year and was won by Eddie Irvine in a Ferrari.

From 1999 to 2017, Sepang was continuously part of the Formula 1 calendar, hosting the Malaysian Grand Prix for 19 consecutive seasons. Rising hosting costs eventually led to the withdrawal of the premier series, while the circuit remained a fixture on the MotoGP calendar and a popular venue for winter testing.

At 5.543 kilometers in length with 15 turns and eight straights, Sepang ranks among the most demanding layouts of its generation. Notable are the two approximately 900-meter-long straights connected by a tight 180-degree hairpin, Turn 15, framed by a distinctive double-sided main grandstand. A track section with very high cornering speeds characterizes the middle portion, with Turn 7 being comparatively slower. Tropical heat, high humidity, and sudden downpours made the course additionally one of the most physically demanding venues of the season.

Several memorable moments were written into the history of the Malaysian Grand Prix, including Kimi Räikkönen’s first career victory in 2003 and rain-affected races such as that of 2009. The so-called Multi-21 controversy between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber caused a stir in 2013. Vettel also holds the track record with 1:34.080 minutes from 2017. In that same year, the final Formula 1 race at Sepang took place, with Max Verstappen taking the victory, ending Malaysia’s Grand Prix history with a win by the future World Champion.

In 2026, Formula 1 returns to Sepang after a nine-year hiatus, but under extraordinary circumstances. Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Bahrain Grand Prix could not be held in Sakhir. Instead of canceling the race, it was relocated to Malaysia and retains its name as the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with Bahraini organizers covering most of the hosting fee. The race will be run as the 16th round of the season over 56 laps.