F1 considering Malaysian GP return as 2026 replacement race

Formula 1 bosses are in talks with organisers of the Malaysian Grand Prix to see the Sepang race make a surprise return to the calendar this year as a stand-in event.

Sky Sports F1 understands F1 was close to announcing the Bahrain Grand Prix back onto the schedule in early October, only for conflict in the Middle East to increase in recent weeks.

Given the current situation, F1 is now considering slotting Malaysia into the schedule on October 4 - in between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 26 and the Singapore Grand Prix on October 11.

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Sepang Circuit organisers were one of a number of races to put their hand up to stage a Grand Prix this year, with F1 assessing their options.

The desire for Malaysia is also influenced by the possibility of the last two races of the season in Qatar (November 29) and Abu Dhabi (December 6) not going ahead.

F1's options in Europe would be limited at that time of the year due to the cold climate with Portugal's Portimao and Istanbul's Turkey among the options, should none of the Middle East races happen.

The last Malaysian Grand Prix took place in 2017 and it was renowned for being one of the toughest events on the calendar due to the heat and humidity.

George Russell is third in the Drivers' Championship, 50 points behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli, and is open to adding more races to the schedule to make up for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia being cancelled earlier this year.

"I'd love to have a 24-race season and get as many races as possible between here and the end of the season. That doesn't change whether I was in the lead or second or third or fourth [in the standings]," he said, ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

"I want to go racing, I love racing, I love the fight, and I hope, if we don't race in the Middle East, there's two replacements. I hope we can find maybe a race between Baku and Singapore. I'd be happy to go racing every weekend if I could."

Sky Sports F1's Hungarian GP schedule

Friday July 24
8.50am: F3 Practice
10am: F2 Practice
12pm: Hungarian GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)*
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
3pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Hungarian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show

Saturday July 25
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Hungarian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint*
2.15pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: HUNGARIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday July 26
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: Porsche Supercup
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Hungarian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Hungarian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
5pm: Ted's Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 heads straight to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix with every session live on Sky Sports F1 from this Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime