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Agencies

Malaysia’s Sepang circuit will host a rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix in October, Formula 1 announced on Sunday.
The Liberty Media-owned sport said in a statement at the Hungarian Grand Prix that the October 4 race at the circuit near Kuala Lumpur’s international airport would officially be ‌designated the “Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia”.
“This is fantastic news for our fans,” said Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali of the agreement between the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain as well as the governing FIA and Formula One.
“They will continue to enjoy a full and exciting Formula One calendar, while also seeing the sport return to a great venue.
“Sepang holds a special place in Formula One history. It will ⁠provide a spectacular setting for racing and an unforgettable experience for fans at the circuit and watching around the ‌world.”
April races called off
The cancellations of April’s race at Sakhir and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah were due to the Iran war and ‌the situation in the Middle East.
The addition of Sepang takes the championship back to 23 races, ⁠although there is continuing ⁠speculation about whether the last two rounds of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will happen.
Italy’s Imola, a home circuit for Ferrari, is ‌being considered as a replacement finale should those Middle Eastern races also not happen, according to informed sources at the Hungaroring.

The rescheduled Bahrain race, at ‌a circuit ‌that last hosted Formula 1 in 2017 but is a MotoGP fixture, will slot in between the Azerbaijan ‌Grand Prix on September 26 and Singapore on October 11.
There are several precedents to one country holding a race with ⁠the name of another: Germany’s Nuerburgring hosted a Luxembourg Grand Prix, the San Marino Grand Prix was held for ⁠many years at Imola and the Swiss Grand Prix was held in France.
None of the earlier examples had the kind of geographical distance separating Bahrain and Malaysia, at opposite ends of the Asian continent.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, said the decision to move the race was a sign of his country’s “commitment to, and passion for, the sport”.
He added: “Amid ongoing regional challenges, Bahrain is proud to stand as a pillar of stability for Formula 1, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure a successful and memorable race for everyone involved.”
Since its last Formula 1 race in 2017, Malaysia has focused on hosting motorcycle racing but kept an F1 presence through state-owned oil company Petronas’ sponsorship of Mercedes.
Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat owns Formula 1 champions McLaren and the grand prix is the kingdom’s biggest annual sporting event, serving ‌to promote Bahrain internationally.
The country, ‌home to the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has come under attack from Iranian missiles and drones.
It usually pays tens of millions of dollars in hosting fees to Formula 1 and sources indicated Bahrain would be covering the bulk of the costs involved in the rescheduling.
The event remains subject to final agreements and approval of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council.


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Formula One (F1)

Max Verstappen on his way to winning the Malaysia Grand Prix in Sepang in 2017, when the race was last held there. Photo: AFP

Lewis Hamilton, then of Mercedes, racing on the Imola circuit, which could host the season finale. Photo: dpa

British driver Lewis Hamilton, then of Mercedes, during a practice session ahead of the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in 2017. Photo: EPA-EFE

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the race the last time the Malaysia Grand Prix was held in 2017. Photo: AFP

British driver Lando Norris, arriving here for practice at the Hungaroring, says Formula 1 has become too much of a business. Photo: dpa

Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg during practice on Saturday for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Addition of Sepang race, which will be called ‘Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia’, returns championship calendar ⁠to 23 stops


Addition of Sepang race, which will be called ‘Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia’, returns championship calendar ⁠to 23 stops.


Singapore Grand Prix

Mercedes-Benz

Petronas

McLaren

Malaysia to make Formula 1 comeback in October as host of Bahrain Grand Prix

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Addition of Sepang race, which will be called ‘Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia’, returns championship calendar ⁠to 23 stops

April races called off

Addition of Sepang race, which will be called ‘Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia’, returns championship calendar ⁠to 23 stops