The unusual decision to stage the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang began, at least for Bahrain International Circuit CEO Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa, with an unexpected phone call shortly after the Belgian Grand Prix. Although the race was ultimately preserved on the Formula 1 calendar, even the Bahrain circuit chief did not initially know that Malaysia would become its temporary home.
Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa was leaving Spa-Francorchamps last July when Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman Hamad Al Khalifa, contacted him directly. What initially appeared to be confirmation that the Bahrain Grand Prix would go ahead quickly took an unexpected turn when he was informed that the event would instead take place in Malaysia.
How Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa learned about the Sepang plan
Recalling the conversation, Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa explained that the Crown Prince first informed him that the Bahrain Grand Prix would take place. The circuit CEO responded positively, only to then learn that the race would actually be staged in Malaysia. Salman Hamad Al Khalifa was about to board a flight at the time and indicated that they would continue the conversation once he had landed.
That exchange offered an unusual glimpse into the circumstances surrounding one of the most distinctive changes to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. Rather than disappearing altogether after the original Bahrain event was cancelled, the Grand Prix retained its place in the championship through an agreement to move it thousands of kilometres away to Sepang.
Why Sepang was chosen for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix
The selection of Malaysia was shaped by several factors. The existing relationship between Bahrain and Malaysia helped make the arrangement possible, while Sepang already had a long-established Formula 1 history that made it a natural candidate to host a World Championship event at short notice.
Sepang International Circuit staged the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 until 2017, giving the venue nearly two decades of experience with Formula 1. Its return in 2026 was therefore not a conventional revival of the Malaysian Grand Prix, but a solution designed specifically to allow the Bahrain Grand Prix to remain on the championship schedule.
Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa highlighted Malaysia’s appeal and recalled the quality of the Formula 1 races previously held there. The move was formally confirmed in July as part of an agreement involving Formula 1, the FIA and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia. The arrangement preserved an event that otherwise would have been lost from the season.
The exceptional 2026 edition can be explored in more detail through the Bahrain Grand Prix and Sepang race guide, including the distinction between the traditional Sakhir event and the race staged in Malaysia.
Diplomatic ties helped make the Malaysia move possible
The relocation was not simply a question of finding an available racing circuit. Strong diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Malaysia were also central to making the project possible, with the leadership of both countries required to approve the arrangement.
Salman Hamad Al Khalifa presented the agreement as an opportunity to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between Bahrain and Malaysia. That political cooperation, combined with the involvement of Formula 1 and the FIA, created the framework needed for Sepang to host the event.
Bahrain GP identity remains despite Malaysia venue
The result was one of the most unusual events of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. Although the race took place at Sepang International Circuit, it continued to carry the Bahrain Grand Prix name, organisation and identity rather than becoming a revived Malaysian Grand Prix.
That distinction made the event unique: Bahrain retained its place on the championship calendar while Malaysia provided the circuit required to stage the race. Sepang therefore returned to Formula 1 for the first time since 2017 under circumstances very different from its previous history as host of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
For Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa, however, the story began much more abruptly. As he was leaving the Spa paddock following the Belgian Grand Prix, a call that initially appeared to confirm the survival of the Bahrain race instead revealed that the event was about to embark on an unexpected journey to Malaysia.
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