The three-day total confirmed by the Bahrain International Circuit more than doubles Sepang’s previous Formula 1 benchmark of 126,690 spectators at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix. Sunday alone drew 103,000.

Max Verstappen led home Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton for his first win of the 2026 season, after torrential rain pushed the start back by more than 90 minutes. For most of the weekend, though, the headline sat in the grandstands rather than on the track.

Why Bahrain’s race ended up in Sepang

The event kept its Bahrain name and Bahraini funding after Formula 1 confirmed the switch in late July. The original April date in Sakhir had been called off because of the continuing conflict in the Middle East. Sepang slotted the replacement in between Baku and Singapore and gave Formula 1 its first race in Malaysia since 2017.

BIC chief executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa framed the operation as an export, not a crowd target.

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“This weekend, we truly brought Bahrain to Malaysia. The powerful platform of F1 offered us, together with our colleagues across Team Bahrain, the opportunity to showcase our culture and hospitality to fans in the region at this iconic venue,” he said.

“Over 260,000 fans came to witness the biggest event ever held at Sepang International Circuit and we are truly grateful to them for bringing their passion and energy.”

An opening for Malaysia’s own return

The scale of the response has already reopened talks about putting Malaysia back on the regular Formula 1 calendar. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had met Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali before the race to discuss exactly that.

“We discussed the prospect of reinstating the Malaysian Grand Prix as a permanent fixture on the F1 calendar, thereby fulfilling the long-standing wishes of fans who have been eagerly awaiting its return to Sepang,” Anwar said.

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Any permanent return will take time, he cautioned, because of the packed F1 schedule and existing contracts with current host nations. The Sepang operator has previously put the annual hosting cost at RM300 million.

Domenicali used his own end-of-weekend statement to credit Bahrain’s royal family for keeping the round alive at all.

“We’ve experienced an incredible Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, and I want to recognise the unwavering passion and commitment that His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has for his race and for Formula 1,” he said.

Sepang International Circuit chair Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz pointed to the fans who had filled the grandstands across the three days.

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“The return of Formula 1 to Sepang has once again demonstrated the extraordinary power of the sport to unite people and deliver an unforgettable race weekend for fans from around the world,” she said.

The paddock now moves on to the Singapore Grand Prix next weekend, the closing round of a Baku-Sepang-Singapore triple-header.

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