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

The round replaces the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix from earlier this year after security worries in the Gulf state forced the cancellation.

Sepang has not staged an F1 race since 2017, and returning Grand Prix racing comes with no shortage of problems.

Organisers must deal with questions over whether the circuit can be sorted for October after years of a tired facility.

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

If issues arise before race weekend, organisers could still pull the plug, and Imola in Italy is sitting on standby if needed.

The October date signals a comeback for Southeast Asian motorsport, though the road to race day remains unclear.

Tickets and detailed schedules have not yet been released, and full details are expected in the lead-up to October.

Fans tracking the F1 calendar will be keeping a close eye as the countdown to race day ticks down.