System 1 has confirmed that Malaysia’s Sepang circuit will return to the calendar for the primary time in nearly a decade to host the Bahrain Grand Prix, because the championship bolsters its schedule amid ongoing tensions within the Center East.
24 races had been initially anticipated to be held throughout the 2026 marketing campaign, however with the USA and Iran getting into battle early within the yr and close by nations being affected – together with F1 hosts Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates – the .
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There had been a want for Bahrain to return to the calendar in an October slot between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix and it’s understood that F1 was getting ready to announce its return between the British and Belgian rounds, just for additional escalations between the US and Iran to pour water over that plan.
Getty Photographs / Atlassian Williams F1 Staff
Quite a lot of venues have put their palms as much as fill gaps on the calendar, with F1 utilizing fan-favorite Sepang’s location to create a triple-header with Azerbaijan and neighboring Singapore on the finish of September and the beginning of October, marking the Malaysian venue’s first F1 race since 2017.
Famend for being one of many hardest races on the calendar by advantage of its excessive warmth and humidity, in addition to the monsoons that always affected occasions, many might be excited by Sepang’s return to the game.
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“We’re delighted to substantiate that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026,” Stefano Domenicali, F1 CEO stated. “As soon as once more, the game has demonstrated its capacity to adapt, discover options, and ship, creating an thrilling second for everybody who follows System 1.
“That is incredible information for our followers. They are going to proceed to get pleasure from a full and thrilling System 1 calendar, whereas additionally seeing the game return to an excellent venue. Malaysia is an unimaginable nation, and Sepang holds a particular place in System 1 historical past. It’s going to present a spectacular setting for racing and an unforgettable expertise for followers on the circuit and watching around the globe.”
F1 nonetheless faces a headache over the late-season schedule, nevertheless, with query marks concerning Qatar – one other nation affected by the US-Iran battle – and Abu Dhabi, two of the final three slated occasions.
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It’s understood Portimao, Turkey and Imola have all supplied to host a race – the primary two of that trio already returning to the calendar in 2027 anyway.
However the chilly local weather in Europe in November and December may put a halt to any plans the three venues have of internet hosting F1 so late within the season, albeit all three held races in October and November in the course of the Covid-hit 2020 marketing campaign.
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This text was initially printed on www.si.com/onsi/f1 as .
