The excitement surrounding Formula One’s return to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) quickly turned into frustration for some fans after the first day of the event, with several claiming they were left waiting for shuttle buses for hours.
The 2026 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix kicked off at SIC on Friday (2 Oct), drawing large crowds of local and international motorsport fans.
However, once the day’s activities ended, videos circulating on social media showed huge crowds gathering around shuttle bus waiting areas as fans tried to leave the circuit.
Some claimed they had to wait for as long as four hours before managing to board a bus.
Long queue
One Threads user shared that they began queuing at around 5pm but only managed to board a shuttle bus at 9pm.
The user questioned how transportation was being managed for the large number of F1 fans attending the event and expressed concern that the situation could get even more chaotic over the weekend.
We came here for F1, not to spend most of the evening waiting for a bus,” the user wrote.
Videos shared online showed long queues forming at the shuttle bus area, with some fans standing in the rain while waiting.
Another video also showed some attendees choosing to walk instead, with one social media user claiming that people walked around 9km back to Mitsui Outlet Park after giving up on waiting for a bus.
View on Threads
Zombie movie IRL
Another Threads user also shared videos showing large crowds surrounding the shuttle bus area, with some passengers packed around waiting buses.
This looks like a Korean zombie movie scene. Are you all back from F1 yet?” the user wrote.
The clips showed double-decker Rapid KL buses arriving as large groups of attendees waited nearby, with some sitting along the roadside and surrounding areas while waiting to leave SIC.
View on Threads
Some only reached KLIA2 hours later
Other attendees also shared similar experiences.
One Threads user claimed he left SIC at around 5.45pm but only managed to board a bus at about 9pm.
He described the situation as one of the most chaotic transportation experiences he had encountered and claimed there were not enough signs directing people as they left the circuit.
View on Threads
Another user said he left SIC at around 7pm but only reached KLIA2 at about 9.30pm.
Even after arriving there, he said he still had to wait for the Express Rail Link (ERL), meaning he had already spent more than three hours travelling around the Sepang and KLIA area.
Large crowds were also reportedly seen queueing at KLIA2 for the ERL.
His latest updates show that he only managed to reach home at 12am.
View on Threads
95 shuttle buses provided
According to earlier reports, Rapid KL is providing free special shuttle bus services from Oct 2 to 4 for those travelling to SIC.
A total of 95 buses were deployed in collaboration with Sepang International Circuit to provide shuttle services between the circuit and several key locations.
These include the bus terminal at KLIA Terminal 2, Mitsui KLIA, De-Village and Persiaran Millenia 2 in Bandar Baru Enstek.
Day 2 appears to be much better
However, a Threads user who complained about the situation on the first day later shared an update saying the experience on Day 2 had improved significantly.
“Looks like they definitely listened to our complaints,” the user wrote.
According to the update, more manpower was deployed, including traffic police who were helping to control the crowd and traffic situation.
The user also noted that people were queuing more orderly and that shuttle buses were no longer stopping along the main road.
They praised the organisers for the changes and said the experience so far was “definitely much better”.
View on Threads
However, the dismissal after the activities this evening is the key to seeing how effective the improved arrangements will be at handling the larger crowds and traffic later in the day.
Read more:
KLSCM 2026 To Proceed This Weekend As Air Quality Improves, But Kids Dash Cancelled
