Malaysia Emerges as Candidate for Short-Notice Formula One Return Amid Middle East Conflict

BERLIN, July 23 — Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit could make a dramatic, short-notice Formula One return in its calendar this year as ongoing geopolitical conflict in West Asia threatens scheduled races in the region, motorsport portal the-race.com reported today.

The potential calendar addition follows the postponement of April’s grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to escalating war, which initially trimmed the 2026 World Championship schedule from 24 to 22 races.

Formula One officials had originally envisioned rescheduling the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix for the weekend of October 4, positioning it logistically between scheduled rounds in Azerbaijan and Singapore. However, as hostilities between the United States and Iran intensify, a return to Bahrain for that date appears increasingly unviable.

With the October 4 slot remaining open, Formula One executives are evaluating emergency replacement venues, with Malaysia and Turkey emerging as leading contenders to host the race.

A final decision regarding the October slot is expected shortly, as the sport prepares to enter its traditional mid-season summer break following this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring in Budapest, before racing resumes in late August.

Sepang International Circuit previously hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix for nearly two decades, from 1999 through 2017, before withdrawing from the global motorsport schedule due to escalating hosting costs and sanctioning fees.

Beyond the mid-season schedule, Formula One leadership is also monitoring late-season rounds scheduled for November 29 in Qatar and December 6 in Abu Dhabi. Should further regional escalation prevent those events from taking place, contingency plans are already being drawn up.

Under those backup scenarios, Portugal’s Portimão circuit in the Algarve has been identified as the primary emergency venue for the season finale should Abu Dhabi be unable to host. In that event, the Qatar Grand Prix would be removed from the 2026 calendar altogether. Portimão previously served as a emergency replacement venue during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and is already contracted to return to the official F1 schedule in 2027 and 2028.

-NMT