Formula 1 is racing against the clock to find a solution to prevent the 2026 season from shrinking to just 20 rounds. With escalating conflicts in the Middle East making the definitive cancellation of the Bahrain, Saudi Arabian, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix increasingly imminent, series bosses are evaluating the possibility of bringing back the Malaysian GP, which has been off the calendar since 2017.
The report comes from British outlet The Race this Thursday (23). Sepang gained traction due to its geographical proximity to Singapore and its location adjacent to an international airport—factors that would facilitate team logistics on short notice.
Accelerating the return of the Turkish GP, already confirmed for 2027 onward, is also a hypothesis given its relative proximity to Baku. Returning to mainland Europe, however, is considered unfeasible due to logistical constraints.
The publication notes that a decision is expected as early as this weekend, as the FIA World Motor Sport Council meets to decide whether to retain the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). F1 is expected to follow a similar verdict, and although it has a few extra weeks to make a final call, a decision will most likely arrive before the summer shutdown.
The WEC rescheduled the 1812 km of Qatar to the end of the year due to the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, which has impacted neighboring countries housing U.S. military bases. As it stands, the race is slated for October 24, while the 8 Hours of Abu Dhabi is scheduled for November 7.
In F1, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are currently scheduled for November 29 and December 6, respectively. However, Malaysia would not slot into the season finale spot, but rather into the weekend between Baku and Singapore, completing a grueling Asian triple-header. As for the season finale, GRANDE PRÊMIO understands that Las Vegas is a strong option, though Portugal is also being discussed for a slot two weeks after the American round.
Sepang hosted Formula 1 from 1999 to 2017 and was consistently popular among drivers and teams, but exorbitant hosting fees led to the event dropping off the schedule. Nevertheless, the venue continues to host MotoGP and other international racing series regularly.
Formula 1 returns July 24–26 in Budapest, host of the Hungarian GP, Round 11 of the 2026 season.
