Malaysia F1 race set as Bahrain replacement

The Malaysia F1 race as Bahrain replacement is no longer just a rumour — it is rapidly becoming the most likely outcome as Formula 1 scrambles to fill a very important gap in its 2026 calendar. Sepang is back in the conversation, and things are moving fast.

Why Malaysia is now the top Bahrain replacement

The 2026 F1 calendar originally featured 24 races, but geopolitical tensions and the ongoing conflict involving Iran forced the abrupt cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix earlier in the season. F1 had hoped to bring Bahrain back. That plan is now essentially dead.

There were hopes that a ceasefire would pave the way for a possible recovery of the Bahrain Grand Prix over the one-week gap between Baku and Singapore. But with hostilities in the region flaring up again in recent weeks and threatening to escalate even further, it now appears a matter of days before the Bahrain plan will have to be abandoned.

Following initial rumours, the Malaysian government confirmed it is discussing a shock return to the F1 calendar for the 2026 season. Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports is exploring the possibility of hosting a race as early as October 4, to serve as a direct replacement for the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix.

Sources close to the matter told RNT Motorsports that hopes in the Netherlands for an extra Grand Prix at Zandvoort have now faded, and it is Malaysia that will get the nod instead. That outcome had been discussed behind the scenes for some time, and the direction of travel is now clear.

How the Malaysia F1 race fits the 2026 calendar

F1 is considering slotting the Malaysia F1 race Bahrain replacement into the schedule on October 4, in between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 26 and the Singapore Grand Prix on October 11. It is a tight window, but a workable one.

Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari recently issued a statement confirming that his ministry, alongside Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has received preliminary information about potentially replacing Bahrain. The government is currently conducting detailed research into the feasibility of pulling off a massive international race on such short notice.

RNT Motorsports understands from sources that the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort was briefly floated as a wildcard option to fill the October slot, but that idea never gained real traction with F1 management. Malaysia was always the more logical geographic choice.

Sepang’s big advantages for a fast turnaround

So why Sepang specifically? The answer is logistics. Malaysia’s Sepang circuit emerged as the strongest candidate due to its proximity to Singapore and the relative ease of transporting teams and equipment between the two events. The circuit is also located close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, making it better placed to organise a race at short notice than many of the other available options.

Since dropping off the calendar in 2017, the Sepang International Circuit has remained in world-class condition. It continues to host MotoGP and retains the mandatory Grade 1 FIA certification required for Formula 1.

Sepang hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix every year between 1999 and 2017, with the event becoming known for its demanding heat, humidity and unpredictable weather. Drivers and fans can expect all of that again if the race goes ahead. This is a track that has always put on a show.

It is also worth noting the Petronas angle. Reports in 2024 said Malaysia’s state oil company Petronas, now a partner of the Mercedes Formula One team, was seeking to bring the Grand Prix back in 2026. That commercial relationship adds another layer of motivation to get this done.

Imola waiting in the wings as season finale back-up

The Malaysia F1 race Bahrain replacement story does not end in October. There is a second headache for F1 bosses. The recent escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran appears to have not only scuppered any hope Bahrain had of returning to the calendar, but has also prompted doubt about whether the final races of the year in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will be able to go ahead too.

Imola has entered the frame as one of the lead candidates to be slotted in as this year’s Formula 1 season finale if the currently scheduled events in the Middle East have to be called off. Imola was dropped from the 2026 calendar to make room for the new Madrid Grand Prix, so a comeback would be a welcome surprise for Italian fans.

There is also logic to the season-ending race taking place in Italy in a year where Kimi Antonelli is favourite to win the F1 drivers’ championship and Ferrari is in contention to win the constructors’ championship. An Italian finale with Italian heroes fighting for titles? That would be something special.

Hosting a race in December would be a different prospect, though. The average daily high temperature for December at Imola is 7°C, which would make it very difficult to generate tyre temperature. That is a genuine technical challenge Pirelli and the teams would need to plan for.

What this means for the 2026 F1 season

The desire to fill the October gap has increased because there is no certainty that the final events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will take place, which poses the risk of F1 getting cut back from its current 22 scheduled race weekends. Every race counts, for the championship and for revenues.

The Malaysia F1 race Bahrain replacement scenario is moving closer to confirmation by the day. F1 chiefs are clearly edging toward a green light for Sepang, and with Imola on standby for the end of the season, the 2026 calendar could yet look very different from what was planned. Keep it locked here for all the latest updates.

For the full picture on how the drivers’ and constructors’ standings look heading into this chaotic stretch of the season, check out Antonelli’s Belgian GP win and stay up to date with all the action right here on rnt-motorsports.com.