THE Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026 flagged off at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) yesterday as the kingdom was praised for its ‘incredible’ efforts in putting together the unique three-day spectacle more than 6,000 kilometres away from home.
Fans in the tens of thousands made their way to Malaysia’s iconic motor racing track, braving the daytime heat and humidity – as well as heavy traffic – to witness F1’s top stars in action and experience Bahrain’s distinct identity in full colour.
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, visited SIC yesterday and met with a number of F1’s star drivers and key stakeholders.
This year’s grand prix is marking an historic occasion, pushing forward outside of Bahrain after being put off from its original schedule due to the extraordinary circumstances that have impacted the region and the rest of the world.
This perseverance, spearheaded by the vision and direction of the leadership of both Bahrain and Malaysia, was lauded yesterday by some of the top flight’s most respected team officials.
“I think incredible job by them,” said Williams team principal James Vowles during the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile’s Press conference at SIC yesterday.
“When you walk outside, you can see actually huge amounts of the facilities from Bahrain itself that have been brought here, and it’s impressive to do that at the scale and level that they have done.
“For us, we obviously want to be racing as much as possible, and it’s fantastic that they’re managing this event back onto the calendar in the way it is. So well done to all of them, and hopefully normal service resuming shortly.”
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur added: “I think it’s showing the commitment of Bahrain vis-a-vis F1.
“It’s something unusual to do the Bahrain Grand Prix somewhere else, but it shows the effort of all the Bahrainis vis-a-vis F1. We knew for a long time that it’s like this, that we are always more than welcome when we are going to Manama, but honestly it’s exceptional.”
Alpine’s team chief Flavio Briatore congratulated HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for working with F1 on what he described as a ‘fantastic idea’ to bring Bahrain’s race to Malaysia, which was part of the calendar from 1999 to 2017.
“Really, thank you to the Crown Prince and all the organisation, Stefano [Domenicali],” said Briatore. “We want to do as many races as possible. This was a fantastic idea.
“It’s a little bit strange, you know, to be in Malaysia, but when you arrived at the airport yesterday, it was ‘Welcome to Bahrain’. So basically, I think it’s a super idea. For us, it’s great to race in Malaysia.”
The grand prix weekend continues today and tomorrow with plenty more in store at SIC for those attending from all over the world.
The racing thrills will go up a notch with F1 qualifying taking place at 4pm local time, 11am Bahrain time, while there will also be heated battles in the supporting Formula Trophy Malaysia.
Meanwhile, away from the track yesterday, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority’s Bahrain Village showcased the kingdom’s rich cultural identity to the race-goers of various nationalities. They had the opportunity to discover Bahrain’s heritage firsthand, while gaining a deeper appreciation of the traditions that continue to shape the national identity.
Amongst the activities and experiences on hand were basket weaving, a henna artist, pottery making, traditional clothing, live cultural experiences and demonstrations, and musical acts including the Bahrain Police Band.
The Bahrain Village is also highlighting the kingdom’s vibrant contemporary charm through Bahraini food and beverage brands. Visitors are being treated to authentic Bahraini flavours with all kinds of sweets, traditional tea, and many others – offering a taste of the diversity and creativity of the kingdom’s growing culinary scene.
Today’s family entertainment will be headlined by the live performance of Grammy-nominated DJ and producer Axwell, who will be taking to the stage at SIC this evening for the first of two mega concerts being held as part of Bahrain’s F1 weekend.
Axwell’s concert will be followed by that of multi-platinum-selling hit-maker Martin Garrix tomorrow night, headlining the post-race celebrations.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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