Formula 1 finally returns to Malaysia after a nine-year absence, and this race will be one of the most unusual in history. The Bahrain Grand Prix will be held at the Sepang International Circuit instead of Sakhir, after its original April date was cancelled due to the situation in the Middle East. Malaysia was then chosen to ensure the race could still take place. This marks only the fourth time in F1 world championship history that a race has been held in a different country from its name.
The 5.543km circuit is known for its challenges, with two long straights, sweeping high-speed corners, heavy braking zones, and slower technical sections. Sunday's race will run for 56 laps and mark the 20th F1 event at Sepang, which last appeared on the calendar in 2017. Back then, Max Verstappen won ahead of Lewis Hamilton, securing just the second victory of his F1 career.
Only 10 drivers on the current grid competed in that last Sepang race, highlighting how much has changed. Hamilton, Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso are the only current drivers to have won at Sepang, with Alonso particularly successful after claiming three victories with three different teams. Ferrari historically is the most successful team at the circuit with seven wins, while Red Bull has five. Mercedes, despite dominating F1 in Sepang's final years, has won there only once, with Hamilton in 2014.
Red Bull's record is notable: they won five of the last eight races at Sepang. The team also arrives in strong form after securing its first double podium in over two years in Azerbaijan, where Verstappen narrowly missed victory. Now attention turns to the title fight: George Russell arrives in Malaysia with momentum from arguably his best weekend yet.
Russell claimed his first grand slam in Baku en route to his third win of the season, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli could only finish fifth. That result cut Antonelli's lead over his Mercedes teammate to 66 points with eight rounds remaining. However, Russell's record at the Bahrain Grand Prix itself is less impressive, with last year's second place his only podium in the event.
Oscar Piastri was the driver who beat him that day, taking victory for McLaren in Sakhir. The Australian returns as the defending Bahrain GP winner but is still searching for his first win of 2026 and his first podium since Miami. Piastri again appeared in contention in Azerbaijan before a late lock-up dropped him out of the podium fight and ultimately outside the points.
This weekend will be the 22nd running of the Bahrain Grand Prix, but the first away from the Bahrain International Circuit. Ferrari leads the event's all-time team victories, and with their long history at Sepang, they will be eager to add to their tally. Don't miss the action this weekend.
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