2026 Bahrain Grand Prix Relocates to Malaysia's Sepang Circuit

Formula 1 is set to return to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit this year for a race officially titled the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix. The unusual arrangement stems from ongoing regional tensions that have made hosting the event in Bahrain untenable, forcing the kingdom to retain its naming rights while shifting the venue to the popular Asian track.

Why it matters:

The deal underscores how geopolitical realities can directly reshape the F1 calendar. Sepang, which last hosted a Grand Prix in 2017, has remained a fan favorite and provides a purpose-built alternative amid growing fatigue with street circuits. For Bahrain, keeping its Grand Prix identity alive on foreign soil maintains commercial commitments despite security concerns at home.

The details:

• San Marino: Imola hosted the Italian GP in 1980 while Monza was refurbished, then became the San Marino GP from 1981 onward to differentiate two Italian races. It now runs as the Emilia Romagna GP.
• Luxembourg: The Nurburgring in Germany held the Luxembourg GP in 1997 and 1998 after the European GP naming rights temporarily moved to Jerez.
• Switzerland: Following a 1955 ban on circuit racing after the Le Mans disaster, the Swiss GP name moved to Dijon in France. The 1982 event counted toward the world championship and handed Keke Rosberg a victory.
• Europe in Asia: Baku's 2016 debut was branded the European Grand Prix despite lying geographically in Asia, before switching to the Azerbaijan GP in 2017.

What's next:

While the Malaysia-Bahrain deal is unique in its geopolitical motivation, it shows F1's willingness to separate commercial naming rights from the actual venue. Sepang's return puts a beloved permanent circuit back on the calendar, though it remains to be seen whether this sets a precedent for future politically driven relocations.