F1 could bring back another iconic circuit this year after confirming Malaysia's epic return

Formula 1 announced that Malaysia’s Sepang track is reportedly set to host an F1 race later this year, for the first time since 2017, and now it appears fans could be seeing the return of another iconic venue for the season decider.

The Sepang track, located near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, is set to host an event on behalf of the Bahrain Grand Prix between October 2 and 4, although it has yet to go through a formal sign-off process, including with the FIA.

This comes due to the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix, which were cancelled due to conflict in the Middle East in March.

While these races were cancelled in March, there was a hope that the conflict in the Middle East may have finished by the end of the 2026 F1 season; however, the escalation in recent days has led to renewed worries about the double header in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to finish the campaign.

If these races were to be cancelled, it would cause significant issues for the F1 with the 11 teams participating in the sport and the TV broadcasters, as per commercial agreements made; the calendar cannot fall below 22 events.

Imola - full name Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari - was dropped from the 2026 F1 calendar (Image: Getty)

So, it has been reported by ESPN that F1 is exploring replacing the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with European circuits Imola, in Italy, and Portimao, in Portugal, with it more likely to be the circuit near San Marino, as the Portuguese Grand Prix is set to return in 2027, and it is about to undertake a major revamp of its facilities in preparation for that.

F1’s rich history at Imola and in Portugal

Formula 1 has a rich history across the world with many circuits, and that includes in Portugal and at Imola.

The Italian circuit has seen the event change names over the years, as it had previously been called the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 until 2006, but then from 2020 until last year it was named the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Since the most recent name change there have been five F1 races, with four of these being won by Max Verstappen after Lewis Hamilton won the return race to this famous circuit.

F1 Grand Prix of Portugal at Autodromo Internacional Do Algarve (Getty Images)

The track also has an infamous piece of F1 history, as it is the venue where three-time world champion Ayrton Senna crashed in 1994, leading to the death of the Brazilian.

Meanwhile, the Portimao circuit does not have a long history with F1, only being used twice in the 21st century, with the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Hamilton would win these two Grands Prix at this circuit, but Portugal has been a country that has seen many F1 races.

The first to be held in this Iberian nation was in 1951 at the Boavista circuit, won by Ferrari driver Casimiro de Oliveira.

From 1984 until 1996, the Portuguese Grand Prix would be an ever-present on the calendar as the races took place at the Estoril circuit, with the likes of Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost and Senna all winning here.