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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 Oct 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 Oct 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.
Sepang’s layout, featuring long straights and a fast-flowing middle section, will put the cars and drivers through a demanding test, with tyre degradation and the ever-present threat of tropical rain adding further complexity.
The 5.543-kilometre long circuit also hosted one of F1's most memorable wet-weather races in 2009, when torrential monsoon rain forced officials to red-flag the Malaysian GP after 31 laps.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department has forecast the possibility of rain during Sunday’s race, raising the prospect of another Sepang thriller.
Adding to the challenge is the current haze situation, which could further test the drivers and teams over the race weekend.
Interestingly, only 10 drivers on the current grid have previously raced at the circuit, meaning the experienced and former Malaysian GP champions Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen could hold valuable knowledge of the demanding layout.
Alonso stands out with three victories at the circuit, taking the chequered flag for Renault in 2005, McLaren in 2007 and Ferrari in 2012.
Hamilton also tasted success here in 2014 when he represented Mercedes, before Verstappen emerged victorious in the final Malaysian GP in 2017.
Among the new generation of drivers that will make a debut in SIC is the current leader for drivers’ standings with 302 points, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes.
The 20-year-old Italian will be looking to return to the podium at SIC following a difficult weekend in Azerbaijan GP, where a qualifying crash saw the Italian salvage fifth place in the race.
His teammate, George Russell, meanwhile, arrives in Sepang on a high after claiming his third victory of the season in Azerbaijan GP, cutting Antonelli’s lead to 66 points.
Verstappen, however, cannot be discounted, with former Minardi driver and Malaysian F1 icon Alex Yoong billing the four-time world champion as a dark horse for victory at Sepang.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after retiring from the Azerbaijan GP last weekend, with the McLaren driver also facing his first competitive outing at Sepang.
Beyond the high-speed drama on track, Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) chief executive Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa recently said fans can immerse themselves in Bahrain’s culture, traditions and cuisine as the Kingdom showcases its Grand Prix experience in Malaysia.
Nine years on, the wait is finally over.
The engines are ready, the fans are coming and Sepang is ready to roar again. - BERNAMA