The 2026 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will be held in the afternoon, despite social media speculation that the race could take place at night.
SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif has confirmed that the race on Oct 4 will not be held under floodlights.
“The race will be held in the afternoon, not at night,” he told Bernama.
Why the confusion?
The speculation started after F1 fans noticed that the official Formula 1 app listed the Oct 4 race as taking place from 8pm to 10pm local track time. A check by Bernama found that the timing shown on the app had remained unchanged at press time.
However, SIC has now clarified that the race will take place during the afternoon.
Bahrain GP coming to Sepang
Formula 1 confirmed last Sunday that Malaysia will host the Gulf Air Bahrain GP from Oct 2 to 4, following an agreement between Formula 1, the FIA, and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain.
The arrangement allows the Bahrain GP to remain on the 2026 F1 calendar after the original race was cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Malaysia’s F1 return
Malaysia last hosted a Formula 1 race at Sepang in 2017, with the Malaysian GP having been a fixture on the calendar since 1999.
Throughout its 19-year run, the Malaysian GP was traditionally held in the afternoon. That will continue for the 2026 race, unlike several current F1 events such as the Singapore and Las Vegas GPs, which are held at night.
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