Sepang in Malaysia will host a Formula 1 race in October 2026, plans were formally announced on Tuesday.

The event replaces the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix from earlier this year after political tension in the Gulf state forced the cancellation.

Sepang has not staged an F1 race since 2017, and getting the circuit race-ready again comes with a fair few headaches.

Organisers must deal with questions over whether the circuit can be brought up to standard after years of a tired facility.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Sepang has been slow to bring back major international events, and that has put pressure on organisers.

If the build goes wrong before race weekend, organisers can scrap the event altogether, and Imola in Italy is waiting in the wings if needed.

The October date marks a return for Southeast Asian motorsport, though the road to race day remains conditional on funding and work going to plan.

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

Fans of Malaysian motorsport will be hoping for the best as the countdown to race day continues.