2026 Bahrain Grand Prix In Malaysia Had Loads Of Highs And Lows

The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix was held in Sepang, Malaysia this year and it was one unforgettable event, for better or for worse.

As many are probably aware, the 2026 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix had to be moved to the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit (SIC) this year as it was deemed too risky to hold in its original location. This was Formula 1’s big return to Malaysia. The last time Malaysia was part of the Formula 1 season was in 2017 and that was before Drive to Survive took off and catapulted Formula 1 to millions of new fans. As exciting as it was to have the race back in Malaysia, the 3-day event did not go over without a hitch. Opinions are divided, but the general consensus seems to be that it was certainly a memorable event.

• Lack of transportation and parking management: Public transportation in Malaysia has long been inconsistent, yet the scale of disruption this weekend was exceptional. Social media posts from Friday’s practice session illustrated the extent of the chaos. Crowd control proved inadequate, and buses failed to stop at their intended locations. Passengers did not form lines. Many fans abandoned the shuttle buses from Mitsui or the KLIA open car park to SIC and chose to walk the full 8 km instead. Fortunately, qualifying and race days brought some relief, though conditions remained far from ideal.

• Traffic Wasn’t Handled Well: More than a quarter of a million visitors entered Malaysia for Formula 1, making traffic around parking areas difficult. Gridlocks were noted near Sepang, affecting all main routes to and from SIC toward the ELITE Highway and extending into the airport.
• Severe Race Delays and Standing Water: A downpour before the race left significant standing water across the circuit, causing several canceled starts and leaving grandstand spectators waiting more than 90 minutes with little official information. While some may say this was a massive negative, bad weather is just part of the Malaysian experience. If anything, it adds flavour.
• FIA Starting Procedure and Software Glitch: A significant software flaw in the FIA timing system disrupted the start sequence during the formation lap, sending cars back to the pit lane and leaving spectators without updates for nearly an hour before the race began at 4:33 PM. Many cars saw power loss due to prevailing conditions. On the plus side, the software update worked and now there’s more ammunition against the FIA to push back against the latest hybrid rules.
• Extreme Heat, Humidity, and Sudden Weather Shifts: Spectators faced intense tropical heat and heavy humidity that caused heat exhaustion, then sudden torrential rain that flooded perimeter drainage routes.

• Ride-Hailing Shortages and Surge Pricing: App-based transport services such as Grab faced major vehicle shortages and surge pricing three to four times the usual rate, worsened by local mobile network congestion that hindered bookings during peak exit times.
• Food & Beverage Shortages and Cashless Payment Failures: Concession stands across the Mall Area and Hillstands quickly ran low on stock as large crowds surged, while strained mobile networks triggered broad outages in point-of-sale and e-wallet terminals, slowing lines.
• Muddy Terrain and Obstructed Hillstand Sightlines: General admission ticket holders on the open K1 and G hillstands faced hazardous, waterlogged mud, while spectators with umbrellas and improvised shelters greatly obstructed track visibility.