Wildfire smoke and extreme weather in Malaysia for Bahrain GP weekend
The rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend in Malaysia, is set to be a game of cat and mouse with the elements. F1’s long-awaited return to Sepang after a nine-year gap came about in extraordinary circumstances. Earlier in the year, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia F1 races were called off due to the Iran war. The Bahrain race was later reinstated on the calendar, to be held…
The Bahrain Grand Prix, rescheduled for Malaysia, will face a daunting challenge from the elements. This weekend's event, F1's return to Sepang after a nine-year absence, is expected to be a test of resilience against both extreme weather and smoky conditions. Early this year, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were cancelled due to the Iran war, but the Bahrain race was reinstated and moved to Malaysia. However, teams will be battling two major issues.
Southeast Asia has been grappling with devastating wildfires in Indonesia, causing extreme air pollution that has seeped into neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore. The air quality in these regions fluctuates between unhealthy and very unhealthy. As of September 29, 2026, 15,461 hotspots were recorded by Indonesia's forestry ministry, surpassing levels from 2019 and nearly matching those of 2015.
The haze has made it difficult to see Kuala Lumpur's skyline, with the Air Quality Index reaching 185 in the city, placing it in the unhealthy range.
Organizers of the Standard Chartered marathon in Kuala Lumpur have shortened its route from 21.1km to 10km due to poor air quality, and a similar half-marathon in Singapore was also curtailed. Despite these conditions, the Sepang F1 circuit, located 45km south of Kuala Lumpur, remains on the calendar. Rain is forecast for all three days of the F1 weekend in Sepang, adding another layer of complexity for teams, who must navigate high track temperatures and the potential impact of rain on their performance.
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