Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia weekend guide
Malaysia is officially in Formula 1 mode – something we’ve not been able to say since 2017, when F1 last raced here at Sepang International Circuit.
With a good amount of time between then and now, we rounded up everything that you need to know about the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia so you can navigate the weekend like a pro – including all the fast facts about the race and on-the-ground things that you should know.
Table of Contents
- Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia weekend guide
- When & where does the Bahrain Grand Prix take place?
- Why is Malaysia hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix?
- What does the Sepang track bring to the F1 calendar?
- What about the weather this weekend?
- Who has raced at Sepang before?
- What is the drivers lineup for Bahrain Grand Prix?
- How to get around Sepang International Circuit?
- What’s the racing schedule for the Bahrain Grand Prix?
- What live performances are there to catch?
- What to eat & drink at the Bahrain Grand Prix?
- What should I bring to the Bahrain Grand Prix?
- What am I not allowed to bring to the Bahrain Grand Prix?
- Can I enter and leave the circuit?
- How to get to the Bahrain Grand Prix?
When & where does the Bahrain Grand Prix take place?
Image credit: Formula 1
If you’re confused about the event’s name, you’re not alone.
The race’s official title is Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, or simply Bahrain GP – Gulf Air being Bahrain’s national carrier and also a regular sponsor. But the race takes place in Malaysia at Sepang International Circuit (SIC), from 2nd to 4th October 2026.
Why is Malaysia hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix?
So, what’s the deal with the name?
Image credit: Formula 1
The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled to take place at Bahrain’s Sakhir track on 12th April, but it was postponed due to the Middle East conflict. The Sepang circuit, on the other hand, stopped hosting F1 after 2017 due to high costs and low returns, as cited by the government.
After sitting out the event for nine years, Sepang makes its highly anticipated return to the F1 calendar for its 20th Grand Prix. This follows an agreement between the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia, F1, and the motorsport’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), to shift the Grand Prix from Bahrain to Sepang.
The name Bahrain Grand Prix is sticking around, as Bahrain is covering most of the race’s cost.
Image credit: Formula 1
Yes. Sepang is back. Finally.
Sepang’s ideal location between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix means convenient travel logistics for the F1 teams, one of the key reasons it was selected to host the race. The track is also just a stone’s throw from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and boasts a Grade 1 certified track that already meets FIA standards, with little tinkering needed on a 2-month notice.
What does the Sepang track bring to the F1 calendar?
F1 fans might recall Lewis Hamilton calling SIC one of the most challenging tracks he’s raced, and a track that delivers good racing. Hah.
The 5.543-km demanding circuit, located on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, features 15 turns and 8 straights. The FIA has since confirmed four straight-mode zones for the Sepang race: at the start-finish straight, between Turns 3 and 4 and Turns 8 and 9, and finally along the back straight before the Turn 15 hairpin.
Image credit: Formula 1
The Sepang track was the first circuit designed by Hermann Tilke, who would later design other challenging tracks like it.
The circuit is also known for its rough surface – along with the tropical climate, tyre degradation will be a major challenge, with 2-3 pit stops expected from F1 drivers during the 56-lap Grand Prix.
What about the weather this weekend?
The Malaysian tropical climate and humidity definitely play a massive part in Sepang’s intensity.
Image adapted from: @f1 via Instagram
The race in Sepang will take place during the daytime, with temperatures expected to soar up to 33°C over the weekend – it’ll be a sweaty race for drivers, for sure. That is if there’s no rain, with wet conditions being another challenge for F1 cars.
A humidity level of 80% and a 50% chance of rain are forecast for Friday, and 70% humidity and a 40% chance of rain on Saturday. On Sunday, the humidity level remains the same as on Saturday, with a dipped 30% chance of rain.
The FIA has since designated the Bahrain GP a heat-hazard race because of the pre-weekend weather forecasts, only the third time the label has been used this year, following the Austrian Grand Prix and Italian Grand Prix, which surpassed the 31°C heat index benchmark.
Yuki Tsunoda rocking a cooling vest.
Image adapted from: Motorsport.com, The Sun
The hazard designation opens up a Driver Cooling System, which comprises several parts that deliver cool fluid through tubes from a thermal store to a special fireproof vest worn by the driver. The cooling system must be fitted to all cars, but the vest is optional – if the drivers don’t opt for the vest, for reasons such as discomfort, they’ll have to compensate with 0.5kg of ballast in their cockpit.
Who has raced at Sepang before?
Image credit: @bah_int_circuit
The Sepang race will be interesting for both spectators and the drivers. Only 10 out of 22 drivers in the F1 grid have raced at the Sepang circuit before, which means that almost half of the drivers will have to face a series of unknowns in the upcoming race. Any experience they have is limited to that provided by factory simulators or what they’ve observed on screens.
Among the rookies at the Sepang circuit are champion Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, as well as World Championship leader Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, with Max Verstappen the last driver to triumph at Sepang.
What is the drivers lineup for Bahrain Grand Prix?
Whether you’re curious about who’s racing, or just want to keep up to date with the latest rankings, here are the driver standings as of 1st October 2026 as we go into the Bahrain GP weekend:
| Current race standings sorted by drivers | |||
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
| 1 | Antonelli | Mercedes | 302 |
| 2 | Russell | Mercedes | 236 |
| 3 | Hamilton | Ferrari | 199 |
| 4 | Norris | McLaren | 186 |
| 5 | Leclerc | Ferrari | 179 |
| 6 | Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 163 |
| 7 | Piastri | McLaren | 120 |
| 8 | Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | 86 |
| 9 | Lawson | Racing Bulls | 59 |
| 10 | Gasly | Alpine | 41 |
| 11 | Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 37 |
| 12 | Colapinto | Alpine | 27 |
| 13 | Bearman | Haas F1 Team | 20 |
| 14 | Bortoleto | Audi | 10 |
| 15 | Hulkenberg | Audi | 7 |
| 16 | Ocon | Haas F1 Team | 7 |
| 17 | Sainz | Williams | 7 |
| 18 | Albon | Williams | 5 |
| 19 | Alonso | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 20 | Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1 |
| 21 | Stroll | Aston Martin | 0 |
| 22 | Bottas | Cadillac | 0 |
| 23 | Perez | Cadillac | 0 |
How to get around Sepang International Circuit?
Now that you’re armed with all of this knowledge about the Bahrain GP, it’s onto the fun part – especially if you’ve bagged yourself a ticket to the race over the weekend: basically, what to do when you’re actually at the circuit.
If you’ve got a serious case of FOMO, there are around 3,000 tickets still available for the Bahrain GP, for both grandstand and hillstand. You can purchase tickets on Bahrain GP’s website.
Venue map for Sepang International Circuit.
Image credit: Formula 1
With Sepang International Circuit being over 5km long, you’ll want to familiarise yourself with the venue map to maximise your enjoyment of the event.
There are three access points – Paddock & Pit Access, Welcome Centre & Mall Area Access, and South Paddock Access – and multiple gate entrances for grandstand and hillstand ticketholders. Do take note of your spectator gate, as you’ll have to enter through a gate designated for your section.
Water fountains are also scattered throughout the venue to help you stay hydrated, with metal tumblers generally fine to bring inside the venue – just leave the plastic and glass bottles at home. There are first aid booths in case of any emergencies and prayer rooms for Muslim attendees.
Come prepared with your walking shoes as the venue is huge. But there’s also an internal bus route at SIC, which has Rapid KL shuttle buses running during the opening hours of the race weekend. These buses run every minute, but may be delayed due to traffic on the road.
What’s the racing schedule for the Bahrain Grand Prix?
You’ll also want to get to know the timetable for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Refer to the following race schedule, in Malaysia time:
| Date | Race | Time |
| 2nd Oct | Practice 1 | 12.30pm-1.30pm |
| Practice 2 | 4pm-5pm | |
| 3rd Oct | Practice 3 | 12.30pm-1.30pm |
| Qualifying | 4pm-5pm | |
| 4th Oct | Race | 3pm |
And if you’re curious, here is the full timetable, by day:
| Friday, 2nd October 2026 | ||
| Time | Event | |
| 9am | Gates Open for Public | |
| 10.15am-10.45am | Formula Trophy Malaysia | Practice Session 1 |
| 12.30pm-1.30pm | Formula 1 | First Practice Session |
| 2pm-2.30pm | Formula Trophy Malaysia | Practice Session 2 |
| 4pm-5pm | Formula 1 | Second Practice Session |
| 6pm | Gates Close for Public | |
| Saturday, 3rd October 2026 | ||
| Time | Event | |
| 9am | Gates Open for Public | |
| 10.30am-11am | Formula Trophy Malaysia | Qualifying Session |
| 12.30pm-1.30pm | Formula 1 | Third Practice Session |
| 2.15pm-2.47pm | Formula Trophy Malaysia | Race 1 |
| 4pm-5pm | Formula 1 | Qualifying Session |
| 8.30pm | Gates Close for Public | |
| Sunday, 4th October 2026 | ||
| Time | Event | |
| 9am | Gates Open for Public | |
| 11.45am-12.17pm | Formula Trophy Malaysia | Race 2 |
| 1pm-1.30pm | Formula 1 | Drivers’ Parade |
| 2.44pm-2.46pm | Formula 1 | National Anthem |
| 2.46pm-2.47pm | Formula 1 | GULF AIR Fly Over |
| 3pm-5pm | Formula 1 | Grand Prix |
| 8.30pm | Gates Close for Public | |
What live performances are there to catch?
Image adapted from: Wikimedia Commons, EDM House Network
Two concerts will be held over the F1 weekend at the circuit’s Concert Area, near the Welcome Centre. Grammy-nominated DJ Axwell will perform on Saturday, 3rd October, while hitmaker Martin Garrix will close the race out with a performance on Sunday, 4th October.
Concert tickets must be purchased on top of an F1 race weekend ticket. Wristbands can be collected from one of the collection points at the circuit. Ticket prices are US$50 (~RM204.27) for Axwell’s concert, and US$100 (~RM408.55) for Garrix.
Image credit: Sepang International Circuit
Beyond these official concerts, there are a series of roaming entertainment performances for spectators to catch in different zones – namely the Mall Area, Grandstands, and Bahrain Village – over the weekend. The earliest starts at 10am, and the last at 7pm.
Chinese Acrobats will also put on shows at the SIC Fan Zone throughout the weekend.
What to eat & drink at the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Image adapted from: @chagee.my, Janet
The Bahrain Grand Prix is a full 3-day event, which means you’ll need to make pit stops for food throughout the day to stay fueled. Some official food vendors have been announced for the race, but do expect higher food prices here than at the mall.
Here’s a list of them:
| Food vendors at Bahrain GP | |||
| Chagee | Beutea | Abu Nadwa | Texas Chicken |
| Costa Coffee | Boost Juice | Beard Brothers BBQ | Dr Dried Chicken |
| Starbucks | ZUS Coffee | Peti Dessert | Wak Deli |
| Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf | Kenangan Coffee | Kyochon Chicken | Marry Brown |
| Kopihut | KFC | Murni Discovery | Nasi Lemak Selaha |
| Go Pizza | Kopihut | Top Global | Pizza Hut |
| Christine’s Bakery | 18 Lab by KLGCC | MC Crispy Chicken & Rice | US Pizza |
| Latest Recipe | D Laksa | ||
You can check food prices from the vendors above at the official food vendor list here.
If you want to avoid the venue prices for food, head to the nearby malls Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA or Gateway @ KLIA, or towns with more food options in the venue’s vicinity like Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, and Dengkil.
What should I bring to the Bahrain Grand Prix?
If you’re a Malaysian with a MyKad-discounted ticket, you’ll need to bring a valid MyKad as it’s required for entry verification. If you can’t prove you’re Malaysian, you’ll have to fork out the price difference between the MyKad-discounted ticket and the full-price ticket.
There’s no specific measurement guide for bags that you can bring inside the Sepang circuit, but keep them small and compact – not “oversized” like a luggage – if you want to avoid running into any issues. Security bag checks will be conducted at the door.
The essentials that you should think of packing with you are:
- Portable fan, to stay cool in the heat & humidity
- Rain poncho, in case of the fickle Malaysian weather
- Sunscreen, to keep safe from the sun – here are the best ones to get
- Picnic cloth, if you’re sitting on a hillside
- Portable phone charger, to keep your phone battery from dying under the intense sun & recordings
- Earplugs, if you want to stay protected from loud noises during the races & concerts
What am I not allowed to bring to the Bahrain Grand Prix?
To ensure the safety of all visitors, there’s a list of prohibited items at the Sepang circuit.
Here’s a list of them:
| Prohibited items at Bahrain GP | |||
| Flammable items | Sticks & rods | Pets | Lasers |
| Sharp objects, like scissors & nail clippers | Air horns | All types of outside food & beverages | Political posters, flags & banners |
| Professional cameras with detachable lenses | Selfie sticks & tripods | Professional audio & video recorders | Incendiary items & firecrackers |
| Flares | Helmets | Long umbrellas | Glass bottles |
| Water bottles | Oversized bags | Musical instruments | Drones |
| Prams, bicycles, roller skates, scooters & skateboards | |||
Can I enter and leave the circuit?
According to the Bahrain GP website under its Terms & Conditions FAQs, “Admission and re-admission are not permitted only after the end of each day of the Event”. This means that spectators can expect to be allowed re-entry throughout the day, as long as they can show proof of ticket. Be sure to scan out when you’re leaving the Sepang circuit, or you might run the risk of having your ticket recognised as already being scanned and “used”.
How to get to the Bahrain Grand Prix?
With over 100,000 tickets sold for the 3-day race, it’s highly recommended to use KLIA Ekspres, KLIA Transit, or e-hailing services to arrive at Sepang International Circuit.
Free bus shuttle services operate from four designated areas: Mitsui Outlet Park, KLIA Terminal 2, KLIA Long-Term Car Park, and De-Village @ Enstek. The bus service runs on all 3 days of the event, between 7am and 12am, at a frequency of 10-15 minutes. This service is only for Bahrain GP ticketholders, so be prepared to show your ticket to hop on a bus.
You can refer to our guide on how to travel to KLIA via bus, KLIA Transit, and KLIA Ekspres.
If you’re opting for a taxi or e-hailing ride, only these providers will be permitted to the venue:
- Public taxis booked via GB Ride & GETRide
- Grab
- Limousine KLIA
Image credit: Grab
Grab will have designated pick-up and drop-off points at the four shuttle hubs, making it easy to hitch a ride with the e-hailing service. For more convenience, take advantage of Grab Advance Booking to book a ride at least 24 hours in advance.
Get ready for race day at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
You can bet that Malaysians are bringing nothing but high energy for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, as F1 makes its Malaysian comeback after 9 years. It’ll be 3 full days of soaking up the F1 vibes for the first time or once again.
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Cover image adapted from: Formula One, Janet