Malaysia is set to stage a Formula 1 Grand Prix in October, replacing the cancelled Bahrain event.
The Sepang track, located near Kuala Lumpur, will host the race on 2-4 October, a week before the event in neighbouring Singapore. The event is expected to be announced officially in the coming days, perhaps as early as Sunday.
This move comes after Bahrain and Saudi Arabia's April races were postponed in March due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Formula 1 had hoped to reinstate Bahrain's October date, but logistical reasons and the war's ongoing nature led to the decision to hold the event elsewhere.
The race will be presented as the Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia. This unusual arrangement is a result of the complex scheduling and logistical challenges posed by the war in the Middle East.
The FIA, governing body of Formula 1, has yet to formally approve the change. However, with the deadline for confirming a new date fast approaching, it's likely that the decision will be made soon.
This development means that there will be three consecutive Formula 1 races in Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Singapore. The ongoing war has also cast uncertainty over the season-ending races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, scheduled for the final weekend in November and the first in December.
A decision on these events does not have to be made until September, but a number of alternatives are being considered, including Imola in Italy, Portimao in Portugal, and Istanbul Park in Turkey.
Imola, which hosted the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix between 2020 and 2025, is seen as a likely candidate to host a race at the end of the season. However, both Portimao and Istanbul Park are less likely due to ongoing construction work and logistical challenges.
The cancellation of the four Middle Eastern races would reduce the originally scheduled 24-race calendar to 20. Formula 1 is keen to host at least 21 races to avoid contractual clauses that could see the sport have to pay rights fees back to broadcasters and may also affect teams' sponsorship budgets.
The decision to hold the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia is a result of the complex and rapidly changing situation in the Middle East. As the war continues to affect the region, Formula 1 is working to find solutions that will allow the season to continue as smoothly as possible.
The event is expected to be announced officially in the coming days, with the first Formula 1 cars likely to hit the Sepang track in the next few weeks.
Source: BBC Sports