F1 Fans Face Chaos And Gridlock At Sepang International Circuit During Bahrain Grand Prix
- Thousands of Formula 1 spectators faced severe gridlock, three-hour shuttle waits, and crowded transport hubs following the first day of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the...
- Traffic congestion paralyzed roads leading to the circuit while private vehicles and ride-hailing cars were stopped at the perimeter.
- The transport breakdown extended far beyond the circuit perimeter, spilling directly into transportation terminals.
Thousands of Formula 1 spectators faced severe gridlock, three-hour shuttle waits, and crowded transport hubs following the first day of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit on October 2, 2026. The return of Formula 1 to Malaysia for the first time since 2017 drew massive crowds, but exiting the venue triggered widespread commuter chaos across Sepang and Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2.
Gridlock and Blocked Perimeters at Sepang International Circuit
Traffic congestion paralyzed roads leading to the circuit while private vehicles and ride-hailing cars were stopped at the perimeter. Users on X, formerly Twitter, described vehicles being blocked at the boundary line, funnelling crowds toward distant shuttle hubs at Mitsui Outlet Park and KLIA Terminal 2. Thousands of fans crowded designated bus waiting areas after the second practice session, with some waiting up to three hours to board.
British content creator Ryan Howlett said that he left Sepang at 5:45 PM and only managed to board a bus at 9:00 PM, describing the ordeal as one of the craziest things he had ever encountered. Howlett alleged that fights broke out among the crowds, with people shouting and throwing objects at buses amid a complete absence of exit signage. Another attendee, posting on Threads as imanmanh, said that he and his companions gave up on the lengthy shuttle queues and walked almost 18 kilometres back to Mitsui Outlet Park.
Spillover Congestion Hits KLIA Terminal 2 and Rail Links
The transport breakdown extended far beyond the circuit perimeter, spilling directly into transportation terminals. Crowds filled the second floor of KLIA Terminal 2 as spectators attempted to complete their journeys home using the Express Rail Link. Commuters shared accounts of waiting hours just to reach the airport terminal. Threads user @ishvinderjitsingh stated he departed Sepang at 7:00 PM, arrived at KLIA Terminal 2 at 9:30 PM, and still faced further delays for the rail service.
As public transport lines swelled, ride-hailing costs surged dramatically for stranded travellers. E-hailing fares spiked past RM90 during peak congestion, with another commuter reporting that taking a Grab from KLIA Terminal 2 cost up to RM150 because the rail link was overburdened.
Shuttle Buses Fail to Prevent Severe Transport Delays
The severe delays occurred despite extensive advance planning announced by operators. Rapid KL had deployed 95 free shuttle buses operating every 10 to 15 minutes from KLIA Terminal 2, Mitsui Outlet Park, and Bandar Baru Enstek between 7:00 AM and midnight. Ahead of the race weekend, airport authorities warned that total three-day attendance could exceed 200,000 spectators, with daily crowds topping 100,000.
Frustrated attendees directed sharp criticism at event management. A Threads user identified as izzatyyyj called on Bahrain Grand Prix organizers to take immediate responsibility for the logistical failure, claiming the event was run without adequate local authority assistance. As of now, the Bahrain GP organizers had not issued a public response to the mounting complaints.