The Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia drew a high-profile royal presence at the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday, with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei among the dignitaries attending the historic race weekend.
The event marks Formula One’s return to Sepang after a nine-year absence, but in an unprecedented arrangement the race is being staged as the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, rather than the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah arrived in Malaysia on Saturday for a special visit in conjunction with the race, accompanied by a Brunei delegation that included Prince Abdul Mateen Bolkiah. The delegation arrived at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang and was received by Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj Sultan Ibrahim and Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari.
The royal presence adds to the significance of an event that came together through an unusual partnership between Malaysia and Bahrain.
Formula One and the FIA announced in July that the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix would be staged at Sepang from Oct 2 to Oct 4, following an agreement involving Formula One, the FIA and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia. The arrangement kept the Bahrain race on the 2026 calendar after its original staging in the Middle East could not proceed amid regional tensions.
The return of Formula One to Sepang was also facilitated by close ties between Sultan Ibrahim and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, with Formula One specifically thanking both monarchs and Bahrain Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa for supporting the arrangement.
Prince Salman is also in Malaysia for the race and has met Formula One officials, members of Team Bahrain and other guests at Sepang. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attended Saturday’s qualifying session and subsequently joined a dinner hosted by the Bahraini Crown Prince in the paddock.
Sunday’s main race is scheduled for 3pm over 56 laps of the 5.543km Sepang International Circuit. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen starts from pole position, alongside Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, with Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli starting third.
The weekend represents the first Formula One Grand Prix at Sepang since 2017, when Malaysia ended an uninterrupted run of races dating back to the circuit’s F1 debut in 1999.
