The Bahrain Grand Prix will be hosted in Malaysia after Formula 1 was forced to make a major calendar change. The race, traditionally an early spring fixture on the F1 calendar, was originally scheduled for April at the Sakhir circuit in 2026.
Why the race was moved
The event was postponed after the outbreak of war in the Middle East raised significant regional safety concerns. Iranian missile attacks hit targets in Bahrain near the track, forcing Formula 1 to abandon its original plans.
Rather than cancelling the event entirely, F1 secured an agreement to relocate the race to the Sepang International Circuit near Kuala Lumpur. This unexpected move marks Malaysia's first time hosting a Grand Prix since 2017, running under the official title of the 'Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia'.
Title battle and comeback hopes
As the relocated October race approaches, the 2026 driver standings are currently being dominated by the resurgent Mercedes team. Rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli leads the championship with 302 points, sitting comfortably ahead of team-mate George Russell, who's on 236 points.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton currently sits in third after securing a single victory in Barcelona earlier this season. Meanwhile, Red Bull's Max Verstappen finds himself unusually far down in sixth place, having remarkably failed to win a single race so far in 2026.
