Longtime Formula 1 fans are no strangers to geographically redundant race names. Despite being 60 miles from the microstate, Imola hosted the San Marino Grand Prix for 26 years. The latest misnomer for a world championship will be one of intercontinental scale. Formula 1 and the FIA announced on Sunday That the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will be held 3,750 miles away at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. The rescheduled race will take place on October 4.
Despite Sepang being the home of the discontinued Malaysian Grand Prix, the relocated race will be known as the “Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia”. The move required the agreement of F1, the FIA, as well as the national governments of Bahrain and Malaysia. Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, said:
“It will be an amazing experience for fans around the world and reflects Bahrain’s enduring commitment and passion for the sport. Amidst the ongoing regional challenges, Bahrain is proud to stand as a pillar of stability for Formula 1, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure a successful and memorable race for everyone involved.”
The ongoing US war with Iran necessitated a transfer away as there is no end in sight to the hostilities. The race at the Gulf Islands Kingdom was initially scheduled for 12 April, but the event was canceled in March due to there being no replacement race to fill the vacant date slot. Along with the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Formula 1 suddenly decided to take a spring break.
Malaysia to pay only $3.5 million for F1 race
Bahrain will bear almost the entire cost of staging the Formula 1 race. According to Malay MailMalaysia will only have to cover the cost of repairing Sepang and upgrading it to current F1 standards. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said it would cost about $3.5 million. Malaysia last hosted F1 in 2017 because it could not afford the rising hosting fees required to secure a place in the schedule. For context, it is estimated that Bahrain pays F1 up to $52 million per year.
Bahrain out of the kindness of its heart is not paying any other country to host its race. It is a tough competition to keep an annual spot on the F1 calendar. The sport’s European strongholds France and Germany are absent from the programme. Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium is currently hosting F1 on rotation. A solid one-time outing for any location could induce government funding for a full refund. It was in Bahrain’s best interests to move the race to a country that had the facilities but could not afford to retain F1.
