A rapid relocation has Formula One swapping the Caspian Sea for the Strait of Malacca this week, as the action relocates from Azerbaijan to Malaysia for Round 16 of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship™ - the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Bahrain was scheduled as one of the early rounds of the season. It was postponed due to instability in the Region. The Bahrain Grand Prix promoter has elected to hire Malaysia's mighty Sepang Circuit, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur for the first time in nine seasons. Sepang was purpose-built to host the Malaysian Grand Prix, which was on the F1 calendar between 1999 and 2017. It was the first circuit in the modern era that continues to this day, kickstarting a diaspora that takes the sport beyond its traditional heartlands. The track has gone on to host MotoGP, World Superbikes, World Touring Cars, Super GT and a host of endurance championships.

Rising out of the rubber plantations, Sepang was designed in the late 1990s, as one of the first F1 projects for Hermann Tilke, who became F1's de facto architect in residence. Sepang features fast corners, large run-off areas, and a layout designed to ensure each grandstand can see at least two areas of track. The centerpiece of the Sepang design is the Hibiscus Tower, a grandstand overlooking a hairpin final corner, separating the long front and back straights. Like the complex of corners at T1-2, it is relatively low-speed, designed to ensure a good overtaking opportunity. Turn Four is also a place where passes are attempted - but much of the circuit is a sequence of flowing, medium- and high-speed loops.

The track is famed for very high surface temperatures, which can hit 60°C (140°F), and sudden, torrential showers and thunderstorms. October is, in theory, the driest month of the year, but F1 travels to Sepang prepared for anything.

Marcin Budkowski: "It's a real pleasure to be back at Sepang after almost a decade away. We must extend our gratitude to Formula 1, the FIA, and the promoters and authorities in both Bahrain and Malaysia for their incredible adaptability and swift collaboration in bringing us back to Malaysia under unique circumstances.

"This is a circuit that presents distinct challenges, testing our car in ways other venues will not. That variety is one of the prime attractions of the F1 calendar, and it will provide valuable lessons as we continue improving our knowledge of the MAC-26 during our first year in the sport. Turning Azerbaijan and Singapore into the bookends of a long-haul triple-header places new stresses on our young team, both trackside and back at base.

"Coming off the back of a more encouraging performance in Baku, we are under no illusions that Sepang will present a much tougher challenge for our package. Managing tire temperatures through the high-speed sections and long straights will be critical to our competitiveness this weekend. With unpredictable tropical weather always a factor, execution and adaptability will be key. Our main objective across these three weeks is to maximize every session, sharpen our race execution, and continue to learn and progress."

Both Cadillac Formula 1® Team drivers have a wealth of experience at Sepang. Checo Pérez contested the race on six occasions, scoring points four times. He set the fastest lap in 2013, but is perhaps best known for a hard-charging race in 2012 where he finished P2 - his first podium - having contested the lead in the closing stages, while driving for underdogs Sauber. Valtteri Bottas has raced here on five occasions, scoring points four times. He also made his F1 race weekend debut at this circuit, taking part in first practice for the Williams team in 2012, having become their test driver after winning the 2011 GP3 junior series.

Checo Pérez: "It's exciting to be returning to Sepang after so many years away. I have some great memories from racing in Malaysia in the past, including my first podium in 2012. It's a demanding track, and the combination of heavy braking zones, high humidity, and fast sweeping corners always makes it a unique physical and technical test.

"We showed more positive pace in Baku, but Malaysia is likely to be a more difficult circuit for our package due to the high-speed sections and long straights where we tend to lose out. Weather in Sepang is always a factor, and any potential rain could create opportunities for us to capitalize on. Our focus as a team is on operational improvement every time we hit the track, and we're looking to build on that progress throughout this triple-header."

Valtteri Bottas: "Malaysia could be a tricky one for us. We know that when it's hot, we can struggle with tire temperatures and overheating, and we're still not where we want to be in the high-speed corners. Those two things could make it a challenging weekend. At the same time, I'm curious to see how we perform there and what we can learn from the car in those conditions.

"I enjoy racing at Sepang and it's a track I really like driving, so it's nice to be going back. I'm not expecting to see a huge amount of overtaking, which could make qualifying and getting the strategy right even more important. It's going to be a tricky one, but hopefully we can find some opportunities and make the most of them."