According to a report from Bahrain This Week, Formula 1 and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) have allegedly confirmed that Malaysia will host the 2026 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit. The report suggests the event is slated for October 2026, positioned between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix.
However, this claim presents significant logistical and naming inconsistencies. The Bahrain Grand Prix is a long-standing fixture of the Formula 1 calendar, hosted exclusively at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. The branding of a 'Bahrain Grand Prix' being held in Malaysia contradicts the established commercial and contractual structure of the sport, which ties race titles to their respective host nations and venues.
As of this time, neither Formula 1 nor the FIA has issued any official statement regarding a change of venue for the Bahrain Grand Prix or a return of the Malaysian Grand Prix to the 2026 calendar. The Sepang International Circuit last hosted a Formula 1 race in 2017, and there have been no verified reports from major sports news outlets or official governing bodies to support the assertion that the Bahraini event will be relocated to Southeast Asia.
The claim that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix is geographically and logistically inconsistent with the established Formula 1 calendar and naming conventions. The report appears to be a misinterpretation or a fabrication, as the Bahrain Grand Prix is contractually and historically tied to the Bahrain International Circuit.
No corroborating trusted sources found.
Original report: Bahrain This Week