Sepang in Malaysia will host a Formula 1 race in October 2026, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The race replaces the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix from earlier this year after protests and disruption in the Gulf state forced the cancellation.

Sepang has not staged an F1 race since 2017, and getting the circuit race-ready again comes with its own set of challenges.

Organisers are bracing for questions over whether the circuit can be prepared on schedule after years of a lack of investment.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Sepang has been slow to bring back major international events, which has raised eyebrows among fans.

If preparations stall before race weekend, organisers could still pull the plug, and Imola in Italy is on call as an emergency option if needed.

The October date is framed as a fresh start for Southeast Asian motorsport, though the road to race day remains conditional on funding and work going to plan.

Tickets and detailed schedules have not yet been released, and confirmed logistics are expected in the months ahead.

Fans in Southeast Asia will be keeping a close eye as the countdown to race day ticks down.