The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will take place more than 6,000 kilometres away from Bahrain this October.
Following ongoing instability in the Middle East, F1, the FIA and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia have agreed to relocate the race to Sepang International Circuit while retaining its original name, promoter and title sponsor.
The event, which remains subject to final approval, will take place between the Qatar Airways Azerbaijan and Singapore Airlines Singapore Grands Prix, ensuring Bahrain keeps its place on the 2026 calendar despite the race being held on another continent.
On the surface, it is a temporary solution to an extraordinary situation but beneath it lies something potentially far more significant.
For the first time, F1 has effectively separated a grand prix from its physical location, preserving the commercial value of the event while moving the race itself.
In doing so, the championship has protected months of commitments to sponsors, broadcasters, hospitality programmes and commercial partners while ensuring Bahrain retains one of its most valuable sporting assets.
A commercial first
F1 business specialist Silvia Schweiger believes the move is as commercially significant as it is operationally practical.
“From a business perspective, this is a very pragmatic and rational solution for Formula 1. I’d say the classic two birds, one stone situation,” she told Sector.
“Rather than losing a race altogether, Bahrain preserves the commercial value of the event by keeping its identity as the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, despite it being held more than 6,000km away at Sepang.”
“Behind every Grand Prix sits a much bigger commercial ecosystem. Sponsors, broadcasters, hospitality programmes, customer events and marketing campaigns are planned months in advance. Cancelling a race would disrupt that entire chain of commercial commitments.”
Races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were both cancelled earlier this year due to the nearby conflict and speculation has been rife ever since about how F1 would find a solution.
Rather than losing a race altogether, Bahrain preserves the commercial value of the event by keeping its identity as the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, despite it being held more than 6,000km away at Sepang.
Silvia Schweiger
The threat of cancellation also still hangs over the season-ending races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but for now F1 has shown it can be flexible.
“We are delighted to confirm that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026,” said F1 President and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali.
“Once again, the sport has demonstrated its ability to adapt, find solutions, and deliver, creating an exciting moment for everyone who follows Formula 1.
“I would like to express our sincere thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, as well as their respective governments for making this extraordinary outcome possible through their vision, commitment, and decisive action.
“Most importantly, this is fantastic news for our fans. They will continue to enjoy a full and exciting Formula 1 calendar, while also seeing the sport return to a great venue. Malaysia is an incredible country, and Sepang holds a special place in Formula 1 history.”
For Schweiger, however, the most significant aspect of the agreement is not that F1 has found an alternative venue – it is that Bahrain has retained ownership of the commercial asset.
“By relocating the event instead, Formula 1 protects the value delivered to all its stakeholders while Bahrain maintains its place on the world championship calendar and continues to provide visibility for its partners, starting with title sponsor,” she explained.
“The fact that the event keeps its commercial identity as the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is particularly significant. It’s the first time I see something like that happening.
“It shows that the value of a Grand Prix extends beyond its physical location. The venue has changed, but the commercial asset remains intact.”
Why Sepang?
Other venues had been mooted to slot into the gap in the calendar, and some may once again be in the conversation later in the year once the picture surrounding Qatar and Abu Dhabi becomes clearer.
Schweiger, though, believes Sepang was the logical venue to step up in place of Bahrain.
“Sepang also makes perfect sense operationally,” she said.
“It is a proven Formula 1 venue, capable of hosting a Grand Prix at short notice, and fits naturally into the logistics between Baku and Singapore, minimising disruption for the championship.
“Plus, it’s a great track, loved by drivers and fans. With the current Middle East situation, and the fact that Malaysia could not keep up with the F1 fees anymore, moving the race to Sepang but keeping a Bahrain identity truly is the perfect fit.”
Former Sepang International Circuit Chief Executive Officer Razlan Razali agrees the circuit is well placed to host the race.
However, he did caution that bringing F1 back after a nine-year absence will require far more than simply reopening the gates.
Razali, who advised the Malaysian government to end the country’s previous F1 agreement after the 2017 season because of declining ticket sales and television audiences, believes the championship has changed dramatically under Liberty Media’s ownership.
“Just like any Malaysians who are big Formula 1 fans, yes, we are very excited to see the return of Formula 1 since 2017, although I was the person responsible in advising the Prime Minister then to stop Formula 1 for obvious reasons,” he told Sector.
“I did say that we should reconsider F1 after five years, so now it has been nine years. Formula 1 in 2017 is very much different to what it is today.
“It really picked up during or just before COVID with Drive to Survive and I think that changes the ballgame for Formula 1.
“There are new fans, younger fans, more female fans who watch Drive to Survive on Netflix and not be able to see it live in their country. It addresses both fans, the old generation fans and the new fans that purely follow F1 because of Drive to Survive.”
A race against time
While enthusiasm is high, Razali says Sepang now faces an intense race against time.
“This is the first time that the circuit is preparing the track, everything from the track to facilities, in a short period of time,” he said.
“From what I gather, we have yet to clear the scope on who’s doing what. I know from what was reported that Bahrain Grand Prix is paying for it.
“So what does that mean? Does that mean they’re running everything? Does that mean they will bring their team to Malaysia?”
He also highlighted the operational work required to meet F1’s current standards, from marshal training and medical certification to understanding which upgrades are required and who will ultimately fund them.
“The technical part of it is something that needs to be properly outlined and determined what can be done in a short period of time for October,” he added.
“What are the shortfalls? What are the gaps? Who’s paying for it? Will it be dismantled? Who’s going to pay for the dismantling costs?”
Complicating matters further is the fact Malaysia hosts MotoGP just weeks later, requiring Sepang to balance the differing technical requirements of both championships.
For Razali, however, delivering the race successfully is only part of the challenge. The bigger opportunity lies in demonstrating that Malaysia can once again maximise the economic benefits of hosting F1.
The question is whether two months is enough for Malaysia to really optimise that weekend to give it a strong base for Malaysia to discuss whether there is a future beyond this year for the next five years.
Razlan Razali
“The real success is not just how the race is being managed or the amount of people that’s turning up with a short period of time,” he said.
“Can they do any ancillary events around the race weekend? Singapore is basically a five-days event. A five-day event will generate a lot more return on investment, a lot more economic impact to the country rather than just a three days.
“The question is whether two months is enough for Malaysia to really optimise that weekend to give it a strong base for Malaysia to discuss whether there is a future beyond this year for the next five years.
“That’s the litmus test for this unusual or exceptional weekend – hopefully successful enough, strong enough, given a case for Malaysia to put a paper to continue for the next five years.”
For F1, the return to Sepang may prove to be more than a one-off solution to an extraordinary situation.
It has shown that, in exceptional circumstances, the commercial identity of a grand prix can survive even when its geographical home cannot – preserving value for promoters, partners and the championship while giving one of the sport’s most iconic circuits an unexpected opportunity to make its case for a permanent return.
With the unpredictability in the Middle East at the moment, the sport may have to show its agility again in the coming months.
