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 unrest in the Gulf state made hosting impossible.

Sepang has not staged an F1 race since 2017, and preparing the track again comes with no shortage of problems.

Organisers are up against questions over whether the circuit can be ready in time after years of a lack of investment.

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

If deadlines are missed before race weekend, organisers could still pull the plug, and Imola in Italy is on call as an emergency option if needed.

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

Tickets and detailed schedules have not yet been released, and a proper timetable are expected in the next phase.

Fans across the region will be hoping for the best as the countdown to race day continues.