SEPANG, Oct 2 — Kuala Lumpur is getting an unexpected dose of Formula 1 (F1) glamour as teams explore the Malaysian capital ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), which gets underway today and runs until Sunday.
Social media has been abuzz with posts from several F1 teams sharing their excitement about being in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the race weekend, offering fans around the world a glimpse of the city beyond the circuit.
Among the teams showcasing their Malaysian experience are Ferrari, McLaren, Audi, Haas and Aston Martin.
From the iconic Petronas Twin Towers to Merdeka Square, Central Market, Bukit Bintang, Thean Hou Temple and Batu Caves, the posts have captured the sights, colours and character of Kuala Lumpur.
For those with a taste for food, Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang also featured prominently, giving fans a glimpse of what awaits beyond the racing action.
An Instagram user, @ilyanarsm, commented “macam video promote tourism” (like a tourism promotional video) on McLaren’s video post, “Ticking off the sights in Malaysia”.
“Yes! Thank you for showing off Kuala Lumpur!” @kualalumpurcity wrote in another comment on the same post.
Meanwhile, a check of Aston Martin’s post saw @mei.ylee write, “absolutely obsessed with the content of KL”, while @denis.tucu commented, “wow these are absolutely stunning” on Audi’s post.
The F1 drivers have also been making the most of their time in Malaysia, taking the opportunity to unwind before the high-speed action begins at Sepang.
Mercedes’ George Russell shared photos of his time in Langkawi, Kedah, where he was joined by fellow drivers including reigning world champion Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
Russell’s Mercedes teammate and current drivers’ championship leader Kimi Antonelli, meanwhile, took time out to visit a water theme park in Kuala Langat, Selangor.
In July, Formula 1 confirmed Malaysia as host of the Gulf Air Bahrain GP from today to Sunday, following an agreement between Formula 1, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain.
The agreement keeps the Bahrain GP on the 2026 F1 calendar after the race was cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Malaysia previously hosted the Malaysian GP at Sepang from 1999 to 2017 before the race was dropped from the F1 calendar.
