Malaysia set to host postponed Bahrain GP

Malaysia is set to hold a grand prix in October as a replacement for the Bahrain race that was called off earlier this season as a result of the war in the Middle East.

The Sepang track near Kuala Lumpur, which was last on the calendar in 2017, is expected to stage a race on behalf of Bahrain on 2-4 October, a week before the event in neighbour Singapore.

The race will be presented as the Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia.

The event is expected to be announced officially in the coming days, perhaps as early as Sunday.

It has been arranged by Formula 1, but has not yet been been through the formal sign-off process, which also includes governing body the FIA.

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia both had their April races postponed in March after the USA and Israel launched their war against Iran.

F1 had hoped that Bahrain could be reinstated in October. But with the deadline approaching by which a new date had to be confirmed for logistical reasons, and no sign of the war ending, a decision had to be made to race elsewhere.

When Malaysia is confirmed, it will mean races on three consecutive weekends in Azerbaijan, Malaysia and Singapore.


What about the end of the season?

The ongoing war also means there is uncertainty about the two season-ending races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, scheduled for the final weekend in November and the first in December.

A decision on those does not have to be made until September but a number of alternatives are being considered.

If Qatar and Abu Dhabi cannot happen, the most likely track to host a race at the end of the season is Imola in Italy.

Imola staged the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix between 2020 and 2025 after previously hosting F1 between 1980 and 2006.

Portimao in Portugal and Istanbul Park in Turkey are also under consideration, but are significantly less likely.

Both tracks have construction work to complete before their official return to the calendar next year, and hosting a race in early December would significantly increase the difficulties in doing so.

The cancellation of the four Middle Eastern races would take what had been originally scheduled as a 24-race calendar down to 20.

F1 is keen to host at least 21 races, because any less than that would activate contractual clauses that could see the sport have to pay rights fees back to broadcasters and may also mean the same for teams with some sponsorship budgets.


-BBC