SIC: Sepang F1 Bahrain Grand Prix to retain daytime format, dismisses night race speculation

THE Formula One (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will be held in the afternoon when Malaysia hosts the race in October, with organisers confirming that the event will not be staged as a night race under floodlights.

SIC Chief Executive Officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif said the race would follow a daytime schedule, dismissing speculation circulating on social media that the event would take place at night.

“The race will be held in the afternoon, not at night,” he said today.

The clarification followed the circulation of screenshots from the official F1 application suggesting that the October 4 race would be held between 8pm and 10pm according to circuit time.

However, checks showed that the timing displayed on the official F1 application had yet to be updated at the time of reporting.

Formula 1 last week confirmed Malaysia as the host venue for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix from October 2 to 4 following an agreement involving Formula 1, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain.

The agreement allows the Bahrain Grand Prix to remain on the 2026 F1 calendar after the race was cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Malaysia previously hosted the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang from 1999 to 2017 before the event was removed from the calendar.

Throughout its 19-year run, the Malaysian Grand Prix was consistently held in the afternoon.

While several races on the current F1 calendar, including the Singapore Grand Prix and Las Vegas Grand Prix, are conducted at night under floodlights, the Sepang-hosted Bahrain Grand Prix will maintain a daytime format. - July 31, 2026