KUALA LUMPUR – High-octane drama unfolded off the track at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) today as heavy downpours forced an immediate delay to the start of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
Tens of thousands of motorsport fans who filled the grandstands for the scheduled 3 pm lights-out were left waiting as torrential rain rendered the iconic circuit unsafe for racing.
Formula 1 confirmed the postponement via an official statement on Threads.
“Race control: The start of the Grand Prix will be delayed,” the statement read.
Malaysia was unexpectedly tapped to host the Gulf Air Bahrain GP from Oct 2 to 4 following a landmark tripartite agreement between Formula 1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain in July.
The emergency arrangement saved the Bahrain GP’s spot on the 2026 F1 calendar after volatile geopolitical tensions in West Asia forced the cancellation of the original venue earlier this season.
The historic Sepang venue previously hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix continuously from 1999 to 2017 before stepping back from the F1 circuit. — October 4, 2026