Formula 1 is set to head back to the Sepang International Circuit in early October, bringing the Malaysian venue onto the calendar for the first time in almost 10 years. In an unusual twist, the event will be staged under the Bahrain Grand Prix name rather than as a standalone Malaysian Grand Prix.
One of the biggest talking points is that 12 drivers on the current grid are expected to make their Sepang debut during the race weekend. That underlines how much Formula 1 has changed since the circuit last featured regularly, with many of today’s drivers having never raced there in F1 competition.
The contrast with 2017 is especially notable. When Formula 1 last ran at Sepang, far more of the field had direct experience of the venue, but the current era includes many newer names who now face a first proper test at the circuit. That creates an extra layer of intrigue as teams and drivers prepare for a track that is familiar to some and completely new to others.
Sepang’s return therefore adds more than just another stop on the schedule. It also sets up a fresh challenge between drivers with past knowledge of the circuit and those arriving for their first Formula 1 outing there, making the Bahrain Grand Prix-branded weekend one of the more distinctive events on the calendar.
