Sources: Malaysia strongest candidate if F1 can’t reschedule Bahrain GP
Malaysia has emerged as a severe candidate to host a race in 2026 if Formula 1 is unable to reschedule the Bahrain Grand Prix, sources have instructed ESPN.
F1 canceled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia — which had been scheduled for April 12 and April 19 respectively — as a result of conflict in Iran earlier this yr.
While Saudi Arabia’s race won’t be rescheduled, Bahrain had been hoping to push its grand prix back to the weekend of Oct. 4between races in Azerbaijan and Singapore.
F1 is eager to fill that hole within the calendar with an occasion, particularly as there stays no assure the game’s two remaining races — Qatar on Nov. 29 and Abu Dhabi on Dec. 6 — will have the ability to go forward both.
An escalation of hostilities between the United States and Iran in current weeks has not solely intensified the doubt over the tip of the season but additionally has made the thought of Bahrain holding an occasion this yr more and more unlikely — Bahrain was hit by Iranian missiles earlier this week.
Sources have instructed ESPN that Malaysia’s Sepang circuit, which hosted an F1 race between 1999 and 2017, has emerged as a severe candidate to take that spot ought to Bahrain’s occasion not be rescheduled.
Formula 1 is known to have a handful of circuits which have put themselves ahead as potential stand-ins, however Sepang has the strongest case.
It shouldn’t be solely fashionable with followers and drivers alike but additionally makes quite a lot of sense from a logistical standpoint.
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Decisions made this weekend may speed up that decision being made.
The governing FIA’s World Motor Sport Council is assembly this weekend to determine on Middle Eastern races for the World Endurance Championship — WEC postponed a deliberate race in Qatar again to October and has its season-ending race in Bahrain set to happen on Nov. 7.
If the FIA decides to cancel each of these on security grounds, there could be zero probability Bahrain might be thought-about to host an F1 race even earlier.
It would additionally forged additional doubts on the tip of F1’s season.
Sources have instructed ESPN that F1 is eager to attend so long as potential earlier than deciding what to do about these two races, however the rising consensus within the paddock is that each races appear extra prone to be cancelled.
F1 had been set to have a 24-race season earlier than the conflict began.
