October 3, 2026 · Race-week update
Why the 2026 Sepang Race Isn't Called the Malaysian Grand Prix
Everyone says “Malaysian Grand Prix” — including some Malaysian media this week. The official 2026 name is the FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX IN MALAYSIA. Why the confusion persists, why it matters for tickets and travel, and what we call it on this site.
Last updated: Oct 3, 2026
If you've been calling this weekend the Malaysian Grand Prix, you're in good company — even Malaysian newspapers have used the name this week. But it isn't the official name, and using it can genuinely trip you up when you're hunting for tickets, schedules, or travel information.
The official name
The 2026 event is the FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX IN MALAYSIA — a Bahrain-promoted Grand Prix held at the Sepang International Circuit. That's the name on tickets, on the official schedule, and in every FIA document.
It's also why Sunday's pre-race ceremony is unusual: both the Bahrain and Malaysia national anthems play at 2:44 PM — honoring the promoting nation and the host nation, back to back.
Why everyone says “Malaysian Grand Prix”
Sepang hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017 — nearly two decades of history under that name. Old habits, media shorthand, nineteen years of muscle memory. Nobody saying it means any disrespect; it's simply outdated.
Why it matters practically
Search “Malaysian Grand Prix tickets” and you'll surface 2017 and earlier — sold-out pages, dead links, old prices, old circuit maps. The 2026 race sells through bahraingp.com and official channels under its real name. Same for schedules and travel guides: check that the timetable you're reading says 2026 before you plan around it.
It also matters for scams: our ticket-scam guide notes that unofficial sellers lean on the familiar old name. The official name is one more way to tell real listings from noise.
What we call it on this site
We use the official name for the 2026 event, everywhere — even when it's a mouthful. When we write about 1999–2017, including in our Stories, we correctly call those races the Malaysian Grand Prix, because that's what they were. History keeps its name; the present gets its own.
Quick answers
Is the 2026 Sepang race the Malaysian Grand Prix?
Why do people call it the Malaysian Grand Prix?
Does the name affect my tickets?
What does this site call it?
Sources
Official 2026 event naming (FIA calendar and race-weekend official materials) · Sepang International Circuit history (Malaysian Grand Prix, 1999–2017) · Race-weekend ceremonial schedule (dual anthems, 14:44 local Sunday).