F1 Returns to Sepang?
Malaysia Emerges as Top Candidate for 2026 F1 Race Amid Middle East Tensions
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The FIA World Motor Sport Council's potential decision on World Endurance Championship races in the Middle East could fast-track a Bahrain scheduling decision, influencing when F1 commits to its Middle East races.
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There is a proposal to end the current F1 season in Portugal at the Portimão circuit in order to preserve a 22-race calendar if Qatar and Abu Dhabi races are uncertain.
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Sepang is targeted to replace Bahrain in the first week of October, creating a slot between the Baku and Singapore Grands Prix due to logistical and fan appeal.
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If the FIA cancels Qatar and/or Abu Dhabi on safety grounds, Bahrain would be ruled out as a later option for 2026, preventing its return to the schedule even earlier.
Formula 1 is eyeing a return to Malaysia's Sepang circuit in 2026, with the iconic track emerging as the strongest candidate to replace the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix, according to The New York Times. The Bahrain race was dropped after ongoing Middle East conflict made hosting the event unsafe, leaving a gap in the calendar that F1 wants to fill.
A decision could come before the summer break. If Sepang is chosen, it would mark Malaysia's first F1 race since 2017 — a nine-year absence, The Independent reported.
Sepang Leads the Race to Replace Bahrain
Bahrain had hoped to reschedule its Grand Prix to October, slotting it between the Baku and Singapore races. But continued missile strikes and regional volatility have made that unlikely, The New York Times reported. F1 is now looking elsewhere to keep its calendar at roughly 22 races.
Sepang is the frontrunner ahead of other contenders like Turkey. European venues have reportedly been ruled out entirely. Malaysia's geographic proximity to Singapore — which hosts the very next race — makes it a logistically smart fit, according to Express.
Why Malaysia Fits the October Slot So Well
The target date for a Malaysian Grand Prix would be the first week of October. That puts it neatly between Baku and Singapore. Fans have long loved Sepang for its atmosphere and racing history. The circuit hosted F1 races from 1999 to 2017 before losing its slot due to low attendance and financial issues.
Malaysia's return would also benefit from fan crossover with Singapore, which draws a massive crowd from across Southeast Asia. The back-to-back format reduces travel costs for teams and makes the trip worthwhile, Yahoo News Canada noted.
Middle East Safety Concerns Drive the Whole Decision
The FIA's World Motor Sport Council is weighing whether to cancel World Endurance Championship races in the Middle East on safety grounds. That decision could speed up F1's own call on Bahrain. If the FIA rules out Qatar and Abu Dhabi too, Bahrain loses any chance of returning to the 2026 schedule at all, according to The Independent.
Saudi Arabia's race was also cancelled due to the conflict. That leaves F1 with multiple holes to patch at the end of its season. The situation remains fluid, and the full picture may not be clear until the FIA acts.
Portugal's Portimão Could Save a 22-Race Calendar
One backup plan would see the season end in Portugal at the Portimão circuit. That proposal exists specifically to preserve a 22-race calendar if Qatar and Abu Dhabi are cancelled on safety grounds, The New York Times reported. Portimão last hosted F1 in 2021 as a pandemic-era replacement venue.
F1 is trying to solve a puzzle with several moving pieces: Middle East safety, race count, TV contracts, and team logistics. The Malaysia decision is the most advanced piece of that puzzle right now, and a formal announcement could arrive within weeks.
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