ExFunCity Sport News | F1 Returns to Sepang for the First Time Since 2017

Nine years. That's how long Malaysian fans waited to feel the ground shake at Sepang again — and this weekend, it finally happened. Formula 1 roared back into the Sepang International Circuit for the first time since 2017, and honestly, it's a little surreal to be writing those words.

The twist? It's not technically the Malaysian Grand Prix. This weekend's race is the Bahrain Grand Prix — being hosted in Malaysia, running from 2 to 4 October 2026. The original Bahrain round couldn't go ahead as planned, and F1 needed a home for it fast. Sepang, a circuit drivers have openly missed for years, got the call.

So why is the Bahrain GP in Malaysia?

In short: the Bahrain round was postponed, and rather than lose a race from the calendar, F1 slotted in Sepang as the replacement host. It keeps the "Bahrain Grand Prix" name, but every lap this weekend is being run on Malaysian tarmac. For local fans it doesn't really matter what the race is called — the paddock is here, and that's what counts.

The weekend at a glance (MYT)

It's a standard three-day format: practice on Friday (2 Oct), final practice and qualifying on Saturday (3 Oct), and lights out for the race on Sunday (4 Oct). Session times have a habit of shifting, so double-check the official F1 or Sepang timetable before you plan your day around it.

How Friday went

If you were hoping for a familiar name at the top, you got one. Max Verstappen — who, fittingly, won the last F1 race ever held at Sepang back in 2017 — set the fastest time in opening practice, just ahead of George Russell. The resurfaced circuit and Sepang's famous afternoon heat and humidity are already shaping up to be the real story of the weekend.

What it means for Malaysia

A home F1 weekend is a big deal — for the fans who grew up on Sepang's sweeping corners, for the circuit, and for the tourism and attention it drags in. Whether this becomes a one-off nostalgia trip or the start of a proper return, nobody's saying yet. For now, Malaysians are just enjoying having the fastest cars in the world back in their backyard.

FAQ

Q1: When is the F1 race at Sepang in 2026? The race weekend runs 2–4 October 2026, with the Grand Prix itself on Sunday, 4 October.

Q2: Why is it called the Bahrain GP if it's in Malaysia? The Bahrain Grand Prix was postponed at its original venue, so F1 moved the round to Sepang while keeping the Bahrain GP name.

Q3: When did F1 last race in Malaysia? The last Malaysian F1 round was in 2017, also at Sepang — Max Verstappen won it.

Q4: Who was fastest in Friday practice? Max Verstappen topped opening practice, narrowly ahead of George Russell.

Q5: Where exactly is the race held? At the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor, just south of Kuala Lumpur.

Schedule and results are subject to official confirmation. 18+ where betting is mentioned.