The lowdown on the best grandstands and viewing areas at Sepang International Circuit, which will host the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix on October 2-4.
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The ‘2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia’ is scheduled from October 2-4
Learn more about Malaysia’s surprise return to the 2026 F1 calendar here
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Sepang International Circuit makes a surprise return to the F1 calendar in 2026 as host of the ‘Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.’ Tickets are expected to go on sale in early August, only two months before race weekend. A lot has changed since Sepang last hosted Formula 1, but the circuit remains largely the same. It still offers excellent viewing opportunities from most grandstands and general admission areas, where you can generally see the cars at multiple vantage points. All grandstands are covered and there’s also an undercover section at the top of the hill stand (general admission) areas.
Details of the ticket offer and prices have not yet been announced, though we do know that the pricing will be set by the Bahrain promoter. It is expected that discounted tickets will be offered to local residents. When Malaysia was last on the calendar, it offered some of the cheapest tickets on the entire F1 calendar.
Some of the best seats at Sepang can be found in the Main Grandstand, which spans both the back and main straights, and can hold up to 30,000 fans. When Sepang was last on the calendar in 2017, demand for tickets was not high, so most seats in the Main Grandstand offered open, unreserved seating, giving you the chance to check out different sections and views. Given that demand for this year’s race is likely to be high (despite the short 2-month lead time for sales), we expect tickets to be sold in 2026 for individual sections in the Main Grandstand. For example, seats across from the start-finish line and pit boxes of the leading teams will be more expensive than the seats at the hairpin.
You also can’t go wrong with K1 on the first corner. Grandstand F has good views, but it’s just too isolated from the atmosphere and action away from the track. If you are on a real budget, then the covered C2 Hillstand is excellent value and offers good panoramic views, but is more isolated from the rest of the action than the K2 Hillstand.
Grandstand F
In terms of bang for your buck, it doesn’t get much better than Grandstand F. Situated on the Eastern central section of the track, the cheapest grandstand in Sepang offers views of more than 50% of the lap, including Turns 5 through to 8, the final hairpin bend and the main straight. The downside of the F Grandstand is that it is isolated. It’s a long way from the entrance and the main F1 Fan Zone, where the best atmosphere is found (plus more food & drink options, merch, interactive exhibits etc) . Grandstand F Video
Grandstand K1
Situated at the end of the main straight and with a view of Turns 1 and 2, the affordable K1 grandstand is also a smart choice for fans wanting to see plenty of on-track action at Sepang. The best seats are high up in Block 1 with a front-on view of the main straight, pits and pit exit as well as the opening corners. Another reason why K1 is a good choice is its location, close to the main entrance circuit and the mall area, which should be where the main F1 Fan Zone is located. Grandstand K1 Video
Main Grandstand
The majority of Sepang seating is located in the Main Grandstand complex, which comprises two tiers and can accommodate up to 30,000 fans. There are three main sections:
North facing grandstands, with views of the start/finish straight, pits complex and northern section of the track.
South facing grandstands, with views of most of the southern half of the track.
Tower section, situated on the final hairpin bend after the back straight and before the start-finish straight.
Both North and South sections of the Main Grandstand complex are divided into two tiers. The upper tier is smaller and offers much better viewing opportunities than the lower tier, where the views are less panoramic and partly obscured by the catch fencing – the roof is also really low in the lower section.
At the last Malaysia Grand Prix in 2017, ticket demand was quite low and the Main Grandstand was mainly sold with open, unreserved seating. But F1 is much more popular in 2026, so it seems likely that the promoter will sell individual sections of the Main grandstand at different price points. The descriptions below relate to the ‘precious stone’ naming convention last used for F1 at Sepang. When ticket details are announced for this year’s race, we will update to the new naming convention (if required). .
Main Grandstand: Sapphire (Upper) & Turquoise (Lower)
These grandstands are sitauted at the western end of the Main Grandstand and provide a great view of the first corner, where there is always lots of overtaking. Also good for some pit action (being opposite pit boxes 19-30) and the pit exit. Main Grandstand Sapphire Video
Main Grandstand: Emerald (Upper) & Jade (Lower)
Emerald (upper tier) and Jade (lower tier) are located on the pit straight ahead after the start-finish line and with a view of pit boxes 7-18, which are normally used by the midfield teams. Good for pit action, the race start/finish and podium celebrations, but with little in the way of on-track action otherwise. Main Grandstand Jade Video
Main Grandstand: Diamond (Upper) & Crystal (Lower)
The Diamond and Crystal grandstands are located opposite the start-finish line and pit boxes 1 to 7, where the top teams are located. A great spot to watch the pre-race preparation, start, finish and podium ceremony. Seats here are likely to be among the most expensive at the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. If on-track action is more important to you, then save yourself some money and go for grandstands such as K1 or F. Main Grandstand Diamond Video
Main Grandstand: Ruby (Upper Tier) & Garnet (Lower Tier)
Ruby and Garnet are the upper and lower tier grandstands respectively in the north part of the Main Grandstand. Located at the eastern end of the pit straight, these grandstands don’t offer a view of the pits, but you can see Turn 5, as well as the pit entrance. The last few cars also line up on the grid for the race in front of these grandstands. Main Grandstand Ruby Video
Main Grandstand: Tower
There are four different seating sections in the distinctive Tower section of the Main Grandstand, which is located on the final hairpin at Sepang, where it breaks up the long back and start-finish straights. The Tower lets you check out panoramic views of different parts of the circuit and is a great place to watch the action. Tower Grandstand Video
Main Grandstand: Topaz (Upper) & Citrine (Lower)
There’s only two grandstands on the southern half of the main grandstand, Topaz on the upper tier and Citrine on the lower tier. Both offer panoramic views of the southern half of the Sepang Circuit, from Turn 8 all the way to the final Turn 13 hairpin.. The Citrine zone, on the Lower Tier of the Southern Grandstand, doesn’t offer such good panoramic views of the Southern half of the circuit. Main Grandstand Citrine Video
Hillstand (General Admission) Tickets
Hillstand tickets are the cheapest at Sepang; there are six large, open, raised areas around the track (one of which – C2 – is partly covered) that provide a great viewing experience for budget conscious fans. Most Hillstand tickets are sold to local fans, but two sections are available for general purchase, K2 and C2. In our opinion, the best hillstand section is C2, which offers views over much of the southern half of the circuit, especially Turns 9 to 11. There also excellent panoramic views of the final turn and tower complex. It also offers protection from the rain and sun, which is very important consideration in the tropical heat of Malaysia. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to bring along a hat, sunscreen, rain jacket, umbrella, plus a folding chair or something to sit on. The C2 area is pretty big and it wasn’t previously a problem to find a good spot here to watch the action. This may change in 2026, as we are expecting the race to be very well attended. We also recommend making the effort to visit C2 on Friday to take in the elevated views of the circuit – if ‘Free Friday’ applies at the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. C2 Hillstand Video
