A record-breaking crowd of 261,000 spectators descended upon the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit across the 2026 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, shattering the venue’s previous all-time attendance benchmark.
Nearly two decades after Sepang recorded its prior high of 157,219 fans in 2007, the temporary relocation of the Bahrain event to Malaysia saw overwhelming spectator turnout, setting a new historical milestone for motor racing in the region.
The record-setting crowd witnessed a chaotic, rain-hit race that was delayed by over 90 minutes due to torrential downpours at the circuit. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen capitalized on his pole position to secure his first victory of the 2026 season.
Despite losing his initial lead off the start line to Mercedes’ championship leader Kimi Antonelli, Verstappen reclaimed control as conditions evolved, leading the field across a dramatic final stint to claim his first grand prix win since the final round of the previous season. Antonelli finished second to extend his driver standings lead to 84 points, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton rounded out the podium in third.
During Sky Sports’ pre-race grid walk, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim spoke with commentator Martin Brundle, confirming that discussions are actively underway to bring Formula 1 back to Malaysia on a permanent basis.
Standing drenched on the Sepang grid following the torrential downpour that delayed the start, a smiling Anwar expressed his enthusiasm for the event, telling Brundle, “You see, I’m wet, drenched, but am very excited. You see, the entire country is rejoicing”.
When asked directly about a potential full-time return for the Malaysian Grand Prix beyond this weekend’s one-off hosting arrangement, Anwar acknowledged ongoing talks, noting, “Well, I’m looking forward to it. We’re discussing”. However, he emphasized that the cabinet will need to carefully evaluate the economic feasibility, the estimated RM300 million annual hosting cost, and calendar availability before finalizing any multi-year agreement.
The fan-favorite track didn’t disappoint supporters across the globe with this race weekend, with many hoping that it could make a swift, permanent return to the calendar.
