Formula One will stage the ‘Bahrain’ Grand Prix in Malaysia in a strange twist to this year’s war-interrupted world championship calendar.
Daily Mail Sport understands the replacement venue will be announced, probably as early as Sunday, to fill a gap left by war in the Middle East.
A final race in Imola is also being lined up in case of further disruption to the roster.
As for the hastily organised excursion to Kuala Lumpur, the extra race will be held on October 4 and will carry the name of the Gulf kingdom that was due to host its event in April before America and Israel attacked Iran.
The arrangement was set up in personal talks between Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain and the King of Malaysia.
The ‘Bahrain’ Grand Prix will in fact be held at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit (pictured) this year
The arrangement was brokered by Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain (left) and the King of Malaysia, in light of the chaos in the Middle East following Donald Trump’s attack on Iran
Retaliatory strikes on American military bases in Bahrain have made it impossible to restage the race in the region and the enterprising plan to switch it to Sepang International Circuit – an eight-hour flight away from Bahrain – was met with Formula One’s full support.
The Bahrain-bankrolled event would extend the season to 23 races, though that number would be trimmed if the concluding two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi on November 29 and December 6 also fall victim to hostilities.
In that case a single extra race would be added in Imola, most likely on the earlier of the two vacated dates, restoring the world championship to 22 rounds.
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari would be an ideal venue if either of the two leading championship contenders, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, or Italian Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, were to claim the title there.
