The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has confirmed the start time for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, a stage that will be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. The race takes place on Sunday, October 4, at 3 p.m. local time, that is, at 4 a.m. Brasília time.
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The Bahrain GP will be held between October 2 and 4, 2026, in Sepang, after the cancellation of the stage originally scheduled for Sakhir, which would have been held at the beginning of the year. The change occurred because the conflict in the Middle East made it unfeasible to hold the race in Bahrain.
Given this scenario and after long negotiations, the category, the entity, and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia reached an agreement to transfer the race to Southeast Asia.
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The decision marks the return of Formula 1 to Sepang, a circuit that hosted the Malaysian GP for 19 consecutive seasons, between 1999 and 2017. Known for its challenging layout, intense heat, and unpredictable weather, the racetrack was the stage for some of the category’s most memorable moments before leaving the calendar.
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