The Malaysian GP has “emerged as a potential option to return to the Formula 1 calendar this year between rounds in Azerbaijan and Singapore.” F1 has been “exploring options” to reinstate the Bahrain GP to the calendar after calling off the race, originally scheduled for April 12, due to the outbreak of the Iran war. The Saudi Arabian GP, due to take place one week later, was also cancelled, provisionally dropping the calendar to 22 races. The gap between the races in Azerbaijan on Sept. 26 and Singapore on Oct. 11 was initially seen as “the most likely slot” for Bahrain, but a return to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia has “now emerged as an option to go into that gap.” The circuit on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur would be “well-placed geographically for paddock ahead of the race in Singapore, which is less than one hour away by plane.” The Malaysian GP was a mainstay on the F1 calendar between 1999 and 2017, only to then drop off the schedule “due to concerns about the financial viability of the event moving forward” (THE ATHLETIC, 7/23).
F1 eyes Malaysia return amid Middle East cancellations
