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Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has confirmed that an announcement will be made on Sunday regarding a possible Formula 1 return to the country later this year.
The statement adds weight to reports that the Sepang International Circuit could make a surprise comeback as a one-off replacement venue. The possibility was first reported by The Race earlier this week, with Malaysia emerging as a potential substitute for Bahrain.
A return to Sepang would mark Malaysia’s first Formula 1 race since 2017. However, the event remains dependent on the developing situation surrounding the 2026 calendar, with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East creating significant scheduling problems for Formula 1 and other world championships in both 2026 and 2027.
There had been hopes that the Bahrain Grand Prix could be rescheduled for 4 October, which would have created a triple-header involving Azerbaijan and Singapore. With a race at the Bahrain International Circuit now considered highly unlikely following an escalation in the crisis, Malaysia could reportedly take the slot at the beginning of October.
The prospect has gained momentum after Sepang began publishing teaser posts and videos on social media. Those signals have now been followed by direct confirmation from Malaysia’s Prime Minister that further information is imminent.
“With regards to F1, we will make an announcement on Sunday,” Anwar told the press after attending the opening ceremony of SMKA Sheikh Tahir Jalaluddin, as quoted by The Star.
The announcement will determine whether Sepang is set to return to the Formula 1 calendar on a temporary basis. Until then, the circuit’s social media activity and the Prime Minister’s statement represent the clearest indications yet that Malaysia is being seriously considered as the answer to a major calendar problem. For further coverage of the wider 2026 Formula 1 schedule, see our 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix guide.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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