Why the 2026 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix is being held in Malaysia

Why the 2026 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix is being held in Malaysia

Malaysia will host the 2026 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in an unusual circumstances after Sakhir could not fulfil its planned date.

Sakhir was due to host the Bahrain Grand Prix, as it has done since 2004 (2011 aside), on April 12th, forming a double-header with Saudi Arabia the next week. 

However, in February and March, the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran, with the resulting war leading to severe travel disruption across the Middle East and Persian Gulf.

An F1 Pirelli tyre test in Bahrain was abandoned after the outbreak of the war, with the US Navy's base in Bahrain being destroyed by Iranian missiles.

As such, F1 postponed the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs, but crucially, did not cancel them outright, simply saying they "could not take place on their original dates."

This opened the door for the races to slot into the calendar later in the season, and whilst Saudi Arabia will not be on the schedule this season, Bahrain will be, but not in Bahrain. 

Sepang, which last hosted F1 in 2017 has stepped in as host of the 'Bahrain Grand Prix', and as such, will host the race on Bahrain's behalf whilst it retains its formal title. 

It is an uncommon arrangement, but has been seen before in F1, most famously with Imola.

Although Imola is located in Italy, between 1981 and 2006, it hosted the 'San Marino Grand Prix.'

F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali has ruled out future races following such an arrangement, meaning the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix will not be held under those titles at another venue if they cannot be run at Lusail or Yas Marina.