Sepang in Malaysia will host a Formula 1 race in October 2026, organisers gave the green light on Tuesday.

The round replaces the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix from earlier this year after security worries in the Gulf state prompted organisers to scrap it.

Sepang has not staged an F1 race since 2017, and bringing it back comes with a fair few headaches.

Organisers are wrestling with questions over whether the circuit can be finished before race week after years of slow progress.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Sepang has been slow to bring back major international events, which is why eyes are now on the next few months.

If the build goes wrong before race weekend, organisers reserves the right to cancel, and Imola in Italy is waiting in the wings if needed.

The October date is framed as a fresh start for Southeast Asian motorsport, though the last few months of prep remains fragile.

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

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