Formula One has confirmed that the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix will take place at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit on October 4, marking the sport's return to a venue that hasn't hosted a race in nearly a decade. The announcement, made by CEO Stefano Domenicali at the Hungarian Grand Prix, follows the April postponement of the original Sakhir race due to the US-Israel war on Iran. Main Developments Officially designated the "Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia," the October 4 race slots between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 26 and the Singapore Grand Prix on October 11. Domenicali revealed that the agreement was signed by the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain, along with the FIA and Formula One itself. The relocation restores the championship calendar to 23 races after the cancellations of the original Bahrain Grand Prix in April and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah. Both were scrapped amid the US-Israel war on Iran and its regional spillover. Read also: 3 Demands at UK Airbase Over US Iran Strikes Background Sepang last hosted a Formula One race in October 2017 and currently serves as a fixture on the MotoGP calendar. The circuit, located near Kuala Lumpur's international airport, holds a storied place in F1 history, according to Domenicali. This is not the first time a country has hosted a Grand Prix under another nation's name. Germany's Nurburgring previously hosted the Luxembourg Grand Prix, the San Marino Grand Prix was held at Imola in Italy for years, and the Swiss Grand Prix took place in France. Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat owns the McLaren F1 team, and the Grand Prix is the kingdom's biggest annual sporting event, used to promote Bahrain internationally. The country, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, has faced attacks from Iranian missiles and drones during the ongoing conflict. Why It Matters The rescheduling preserves a 23-race season amid ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East, but uncertainty remains. Speculation persists about whether the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will proceed as planned. Informed sources at the Hungaroring indicate that Italy's Imola—Ferrari's home circuit—is being considered as a replacement finale should those races also be canceled. For fans, the move offers a return to a beloved venue and ensures a full calendar, albeit one reshaped by war. For Bahrain, holding its marquee event abroad maintains the kingdom's global visibility despite the regional crisis. What's Next The event remains subject to final agreements and approval from the FIA's World Motor Sport Council. The next scheduled race is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 26, followed by the relocated Bahrain GP on October 4. A decision on the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds is expected in the coming weeks.