Formula 1 is set to head to Malaysia in October for the first time since 2017 to step in for the previously cancelled race in Bahrain, which was set to take place in April.
The race in Bahrain was cancelled due to the outbreak of war in the Middle East region in late February, which also saw the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix — scheduled for the week after — called off.
The race would be officially presented as the Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia and will take place at the Sepang International Circuit, located just under 30 miles from capital city Kuala Lumpur. Dates have yet to be officially confirmed, but it is expected to take place on the weekend of 2-4 October, one week after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and one week before the Singapore Grand Prix.
According to an interview given by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, an official announcement could be due as early as Sunday.
The Malaysian Grand Prix was a permanent fixture on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar from 1999 to 2017, before being dropped due to rising costs and low ticket sales. The final race in 2017 was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished ahead of then-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo.
It had been hoped that postponed races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could be fitted into the autumn schedule alongside the other Middle Eastern races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
However, conflict in the region has increased in recent weeks after a prolonged ceasefire, with F1 exploring all options should the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi need to be cancelled also. Istanbul and Portimao in Portugal have been considered as potential replacements, if needed.
words: Mike Booth
picture: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool