Malaysia could return to the Formula One calendar at short notice this year if the Iran conflict causes more problems, specialist website the-race.com reported today.
In mid-March, Formula One postponed April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to the war, reducing the calendar initially from 24 to 22 grands prix, reported German news agency dpa.
If the final two races of the year on Nov 29 in Qatar and on Dec 6 in Abu Dhabi cannot take place either due to the conflict in West Asia, Formula One bosses are examining further options, the report said.
Before the recent escalation in the Iran conflict, officials had hoped that a Bahrain Grand Prix could be rescheduled on the first weekend in October between races in Azerbaijan and Singapore.
That now looks unlikely with the US and Iran again trading blows, so candidates for a race on Oct 4 now include Malaysia as well as Turkey, the report said.
Formula One is expected to make an early decision on the proposed October race as the championship enters its mid-season break following this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, with racing set to resume at the end of August.
Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit previously hosted the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017 before it was dropped from the calendar due to rising hosting costs and sanctioning fees.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s Portimão circuit remains a contingency venue for the season finale should the Dec 6 race in Abu Dhabi be unable to proceed, while the Qatar Grand Prix would be removed from the calendar.
The Algarve circuit last hosted Formula One races in 2020 and 2021 as a replacement during the Covid-19 pandemic and is scheduled to return in 2027 and 2028.