FIA has Sepang grid repainted after pole-position marking error

Sepang’s starting grid has been repainted before the Formula 1 weekend after pole position was marked on the wrong side of the track.

GPBeat · Newsroom02 Oct 2026, 11:45 · 1 min

The FIA instructed Sepang to restore pole position to the right-hand side of the start-finish straight after it was initially marked on the left, RacingNews365 reports. The circuit covered the original markings and repainted the grid: the slot first labelled second became pole position, and the remaining slots were renumbered.

The start line was moved as well. The misplaced pole slot had been ahead of the original line, raising potential concerns about the distance to the first grid position and the timing system. RacingNews365 says a mix-up in documentation is thought to have caused the error, and that track workers followed the instructions they had received.

The work was completed on Thursday, after which Sepang passed its circuit inspection ahead of the weekend’s running.

Source context

Based on RacingNews365 English’s 2 October 2026 report on the Sepang grid correction.

Claims and supporting evidence 6

RacingNews365 reports that pole position was initially marked on the left side of the straight, rather than its historical position on the right, and that the FIA instructed the circuit to restore that configuration.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Pole-position grid marking at Sepang Before the October 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia This is the retrieved outlet's account; no FIA document was supplied.

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According to RacingNews365, the original markings were covered and the grid repainted. The former second-place slot became pole position, and the other slots were renumbered.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Physical correction of the starting grid Before the October 2026 race weekend The retrieved article is the sole account of the completed work.

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RacingNews365 reports that the start line was moved too. It describes the wrongly positioned pole slot as being ahead of the original line and the distance to the first slot and timing system as potential issues, not confirmed failures.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Start-line adjustment and stated rationale During the pre-race correction in October 2026 The source does not report a measured timing malfunction.

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RacingNews365 reports that the changes were completed on Thursday and that Sepang subsequently passed its circuit inspection before the weekend's running.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Completion and circuit inspection Thursday before the October 2026 race weekend No inspection record was supplied separately.

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RacingNews365 presents a documentation miscommunication as the understood explanation for the error and says track workers followed the instructions they received. The explanation remains qualified.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Possible origin of the marking error Preparations for the October 2026 race weekend The article does not identify a named source for the explanation or establish it as an official FIA finding.

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RacingNews365 places the correction ahead of Formula 1's return to Sepang, which it describes as the circuit's first F1 event since 2017 and as the venue for that weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Race context October 2026 race weekend; previous Sepang F1 appearance in 2017 This context comes from the same publication; no separate race-calendar source was retrieved.

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This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.