Formula 1 could this year race at Sepang for the first time in a decade with the Malaysian Grand Prix potentially in line for a surprise return to the calendar. It is understood to be one of the frontrunners to host a race instead of the Bahrain Grand Prix which looks increasingly unlikely to be restored to the schedule this year.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were due to be held in April but were cancelled after the outbreak of war in the Middle East following US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Retaliatory fire at Gulf states including both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia meant it was considered far too much of a safety risk for an F1 race to be held in either country.
But for months there has been hope that at least one of those races could be rescheduled. A few weeks ago, it seemed increasingly likely that the Bahrain race might be reinstated and scheduled for October 4, the weekend between the races due to be held in Azerbaijan and Singapore.
Despite a recent ceasefire, though, tensions have once again escalated in the region and it is unlikely that Bahrain will be able to host a race after all. Given the time needed to sort logistics, a final decision on the potential reinstatement of the Bahrain event will be needed very soon and could be made this weekend.
But even though the Bahrain race may not happen. F1 could still seek to fill that empty weekend in a bid to make this season’s calendar as full as possible. It has emerged that Sepang is a front-runner to get the nod given how close it is to Singapore, making it logistically possible to fit in a new race there rather than returning to Europe after the Baku event.
Sepang has not hosted an F1 race since 2017, but an event was held there every year from 1999 until it fell off the calendar. The circuit is sponsored by Petronas, the long-running title partner of the Mercedes team and one of F1’s most recognisable sponsors.
It is not the only venue in contention, though, as Istanbul Park in Turkey is also thought to be a viable option in terms of its location. Plus, that circuit may prove to be more prepared for an F1-scale event given it has already penned a deal to return to the calendar from 2027, while Sepang is not set to return to the sport’s schedule any time soon.
There may prove to be more need for replacement races later in the year, though, with the fates of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix still up in the air. Those Middle Eastern venues are due to hold the final two rounds of the season but uncertainty remains due to the ongoing conflict. An alternative season finale at the Portimao circuit in Portugal, which is also returning to the F1 calendar in 2027, is the most likely alternative.