KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday shared updates on preparations for the 2026 Formula 1 (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) with Bahrain Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Anwar provided the updates during a telephone call on the sidelines of his visit to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) this afternoon.
“I also expressed my appreciation for the close cooperation between Malaysia and Bahrain in making this event a success, with preparations now in full swing to welcome fans and visitors from around the world.
“I look forward to meeting the Crown Prince in Malaysia in the coming days, God willing, as we continue to strengthen the friendship between our two countries,” he said in a Facebook post.
Earlier, the Prime Minister took part in a Pit Lane Walk ahead of the 2026 F1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP, which will take place at SIC from today until Sunday.
Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif and Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) chief executive Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa.
SIC was selected to host the 2026 F1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP, making the iconic circuit the temporary venue for the prestigious Bahrain race.
In July, Formula 1 confirmed Malaysia as the host of the race from October 2 to 4 following an agreement between Formula 1, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), and the Malaysian and Bahraini governments.
The agreement allowed the Bahrain GP to remain on the 2026 F1 calendar after the race, originally scheduled to take place earlier in the season, was cancelled due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Malaysia previously hosted the Malaysian GP at Sepang from 1999 to 2017 before the race was dropped from the F1 calendar.
