Sepang will host the Bahrain Grand Prix from 2-4 October, as System 1 returns to Malaysia for the primary time since 2017.
Initially that includes 4 rounds within the Center East, the 2026 F1 calendar was compromised by the US-Israeli struggle on Iran, which has destabilised the entire area. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix have been initially cancelled, making a five-week break in April.
F1 has due to this fact been in search of alternate options, and the Singapore spherical supplied an ideal alternative to run a race in Malaysia, with Sepang simply 300km away.
Bahrain was nonetheless eager to have its personal race on the calendar and has discovered an settlement with the FIA, F1 and Malaysia for Sepang to host it.
There’ll due to this fact be a triple-header from Baku to Singapore from late September to mid-October. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is going down on a Saturday, which makes the logistics a lot simpler.
“We’re delighted to substantiate that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026,” F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali stated. “As soon as once more, the game has demonstrated its skill to adapt, discover options, and ship, creating an thrilling second for everybody who follows System 1.
F1 at Sepang in 1999
Picture by: LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
“That is implausible information for our followers. They are going to proceed to get pleasure from a full and thrilling System 1 calendar, whereas additionally seeing the game return to an amazing venue. Malaysia is an unbelievable nation, and Sepang holds a particular place in System 1 historical past. It can present a spectacular setting for racing and an unforgettable expertise for followers on the circuit and watching around the globe.”
Malaysia beforehand hosted F1 yearly from 1999 to 2017. Declining ticket gross sales and TV rankings, allied to feeling “ripped off” by its take care of Bernie Ecclestone’s System One Administration, led Sepang to terminate its contract early, giving up on its 2018 race.
No fewer than 10 present F1 drivers have raced at Sepang up to now. The ultimate Malaysian Grand Prix coincidentally was Pierre Gasly’s F1 debut.
Sebastian Vettel is essentially the most profitable driver on the monitor close to Kuala Lumpur with 4 wins to his title, whereas Fernando Alonso has the a lot of the present crop – three. Lewis Hamilton took a report 5 pole positions there however transformed only one into victory, together with his 2016 engine failure famously contributing to his world title defeat to team-mate Nico Rosberg.
It’s price noting that F1 is sticking to a theoretical 23-race calendar with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi season-ending rounds unchanged, although their destiny clearly is dependent upon the Iran struggle and various choices are recognized to be thought-about.
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