The F1 Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead after all, but in a different country

Formula 1 plans to announce this Sunday that in between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix, an additional weekend will take place. The original idea was to host a race at the Bahrain International Circuit, after the race in April could not go ahead.

Due to the further escalation of the conflict between the United States and Iran in the region, that plan had to scrapped.

Reportedly, the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur is willing to step in and host a race. However, the event would still be called the 'Bahrain Grand Prix' because the Middle Eastern country would finance the race and therefore wants its name attached to it, GPblog has heard.

Malaysia reportedly cannot afford to bring Formula 1 back on its own, so the country is said to have eagerly accepted the offer. This would bring Formula 1 back to the Southeast Asian country after a decade, albeit more than 6,000 kilometers away from Bahrain.

Formula 1 is expected to announce the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as early as tomorrow. The race would, in principle, be held on October 4 as a one-off.

There, Formula One Management (FOM) will likely not comment on the remainder of the 2026 calendar. There is still hope that the season can conclude with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix.

If the sport cannot return to the region at the end of the year due to the war, Imola is now the favorite to step in.