Sepang in Malaysia will host a Formula 1 race in October 2026, teams were told the news on Tuesday.

The fixture replaces the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix from earlier this year after unrest in the Gulf state made hosting impossible.

Sepang has not staged an F1 race since 2017, and preparing the track again comes with a long task list.

Organisers are up against questions over whether the circuit can be sorted for October after years of a lack of investment.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Sepang has been hesitant to relaunch major international events, sparking concern from drivers and teams.

If preparations stall before race weekend, organisers may call it off, and Imola in Italy is on call as an emergency option if needed.

The October date signals a comeback for Southeast Asian motorsport, though the final stretch remains heavily dependent on progress.

Tickets and detailed schedules have not yet been released, and more concrete plans are expected in the months ahead.

Fans watching for updates will be keen to see if it really happens as the countdown to race day gets tighter.