Formula 1 has announced that Malaysia will host a grand prix in October as a replacement for the Bahrain event that was cancelled earlier in the season. The Sepang track, located near Kuala Lumpur, will host the race on 2-4 October, a week before the Singapore event. The race will be presented as the Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia. This decision has been made due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, which forced the cancellation of the Bahrain event.
The Formula 1 calendar will now feature races on three consecutive weekends in Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Singapore. The cancellation of the four Middle Eastern races has reduced the original 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 team sponsorship budgets.
The event has been arranged by Formula 1, but has not yet been formalised through the governing body, the FIA. An official announcement is expected in the coming days, possibly as early as Sunday. This development adds uncertainty to the season's final weekend, with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi events, scheduled for the final weekend in November and the first in December, still in doubt.
The ongoing war in the Middle East has led to a review of the season's final weekend, with alternatives being considered if Qatar and Abu Dhabi cannot host the events. Imola in Italy is the most likely track to host a race at the end of the season, while Portimao in Portugal and Istanbul Park in Turkey are also under consideration. However, these tracks have construction work to complete before their official return to the calendar next year.