Five Things You Didn't Know About the 2026 Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Formula 1 returns to Malaysia this week, as it steps in to host the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix. The PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit is often described by fans as being one of the best race tracks in the world, and it has a special history having hosted 19 Grands Prix in the past.

Located south of Kuala Lumpur, the circuit is sponsored by our team’s Title and Technical Partner, PETRONAS, and has seen the Silver Arrows win here in 2014. It was our 15th win in the championship – and we’re now on 142 thanks to George’s efforts in Baku – but back in 2014, the team navigated a 1-2 result with Lewis taking the win. Mercedes also holds the fastest pole position lap here, which Lewis achieved back in 2017.

Hermann Tilke’s First Deign

After helping renovate the A1 Ring in 1996, which is now the current home of the Austrian Grand Prix, famous track designer Tilke was commissioned for his first big project: Sepang.

It was opened in 1999 by Malaysia's former Prime Minister and later that year welcomed Formula 1, with it quickly becoming one of the most entertaining races on the calendar and creating a new benchmark for new and modern venues. It started the ‘Tilke’ era, which includes circuits like the Bahrain International Circuit, Istanbul Park, Circuit of the Americas and the Baku Street Circuit.

The current circuit is 5.543km in length and contains 15 turns, as well as one of the most recognisable aerial layouts including the iconic final hairpin which leads into the start-finish straight which is approximately 900m long. You’ll find two high-speed straights, one named the Penang straight and the other is the Kuala Lumpur straight.

The One and Only

Only one Malaysian driver has participated in a Formula 1 race, and that was Alex Yoong who totalled 14 Grand Prix starts across the end of 2001 and the 2002 season. During that time he was able to start his home event, starting last on the grid for Minardi at the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix before ultimately retiring mid-race with gearbox issues.

His best result came at Australia that same year, where he finished seventh and just missed out on points – with only the top sixth place being awarded back then! The current system, where the top 10 get points was introduced in 2010, with the top eight getting points from 2003 until the end of the 2009 season.

Fairuz Fauzy is the only other compatriot to have appeared across a Grand Prix weekend, when he completed five practice sessions – including at Sepang – for Lotus across the 2010 F1 season.

The Wettest Race, Ever?

As someone who grew up watching races in Malaysia, there’s one thing that always comes to mind: rain. It can often be expected, and could be that you start qualifying with a completely dry set-up, and end it with full wet Pirellis on the car!

It was this weather that caused the 2009 race to be brought to an early finish, and only 31 laps of the scheduled 56 laps were completed due to the poor visibility from the monsoon downpour. It remains the shortest Malaysian Grand Prix in history – lasting just 55m 30.622s – and because 75% of the race hasn’t been completed, half points were awarded.

Using the system we mentioned above, the top eight got points with race-winner Jenson Button getting five and eighth-place Nico Rosberg only getting half a point.

Go-Kart Track Was Used as a Test Layout

As well as having a design and infrastructure that was ahead of its time, PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit also created its own go-kart track next to the venue and it’s almost like a smaller scale version!

It’s a very popular attraction for locals, and was actually used as a test for the full-sized circuit which is why they both look so similar. It has 11 corners, so slightly fewer than its big brother, and is 1,247metres long, but is host to some of the biggest international karting series in Asia.

The Record-Breaking PETRONAS Towers

Located about 45km (28 miles) from the circuit, Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. The area was founded by a group of 87 Chinese tin miners back in 1857, and has since grown to become an incredible centre for business, lifestyle, transportation and government with a population of more than nine million.

One of the standout buildings in the Kuala Lumpur skyline are the PETRONAS Towers. Designed by Argentine architect César Pelli, the two towers are 1,483 feet tall (452 metres) and have become an instantly recognisable outline around the world. They had previously been the tallest buildings in the world, from their 1999 opening until 2004 where they were surpassed by the Taipei 101 in Taiwan with the Burj Khalifa in Dubai now holding the record.

PETRONAS occupy the entirety of Tower One and its 88-floor towers, with other businesses in the other tower. The towers have been used for several cool stunts including in 1999 when Felix Baumgartner set the world record for BASE jumping.