Sepang in Malaysia will host a Formula 1 race in October 2026, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The fixture replaces the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix from earlier this year after security worries in the Gulf state left the calendar with a gap.

Sepang has not staged an F1 race since 2017, and bringing it back comes with no shortage of problems.

Organisers now face questions over whether the circuit can be sorted for October after years of limited upgrades.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Sepang has been dragging its heels over major international events, which has raised eyebrows among fans.

If the build goes wrong 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 last few months of prep remains unclear.

Tickets and detailed schedules have not yet been released, and more concrete plans are expected in the lead-up to October.

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