This weekend, F1 will race at the Bahrain Grand Prix. In Malaysia. Originally April 12 at the Bahrain International Circuit. It was cancelled on March 14 along with Saudi Arabia after a regional conflict that made the Gulf unsafe. The calendar went from 24 races to 22.
By late July, F1 was working to preserve the round rather than lose it. Sepang was the answer, and the calendar was back up to 23 races. Now, as for the deal itself, Bahrain keeps the race name, the ticket pricing rights and the proceeds, and covers most of the relocation cost. Malaysia provides the circuit. Two governments, one Grand Prix.
As for why Sepang was available, the Malaysian GP ran from 1999–2017 and ended over hosting fees of roughly RM300 million a year. Tilke’s first purpose-built F1 circuit. It has sat without F1 for nine years. Verstappen won the last one, and Vettel’s lap record still stands.
For the weekend, the heat index is forecast to hit 104°F, or 40°C, with a risk of rain. Nobody has wet track data on 2026 cars just yet, so that should be fun. And with the heat being what it is, expect a heat hazard declaration — the FIA calls one whenever the forecast hits 31°C, and every car then has to carry a working driver cooling system.
Malaysia never actually left: Petronas is state-owned and has been Mercedes’ title and technical partner since 2010, and this season its fuel is in the car leading the championship. It’s getting the Grand Prix back under another country’s name, for one weekend.