Bahrain GP used two charter flights for Sepang paddock move

RacingNews365 Nederland says unrest in the Middle East has prevented the race from taking place in Bahrain, and that its organisers have agreed to stage it in Malaysia instead. The outlet reported on 1 October that the event was scheduled for that weekend.

Sepang last hosted Formula 1 in 2017, when Max Verstappen won the Malaysian Grand Prix. It was his second F1 victory, following his win on his Red Bull debut in Spain.

The race’s reported designation would leave Verstappen as the most recent winner of an event officially called the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Update

With two months to prepare for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, organisers used two Gulf Air charter flights to bring paddock furniture, catering equipment and more than 500 marshals, officials and other workers to Malaysia, Autosport reports. Bahrain is running the event at the Malaysian circuit, rather than Malaysia replacing it on the calendar.

The move also brought challenges for spectators. Autosport relayed complaints from fans on Friday about long concession queues, insufficient drinking water and difficulties getting in and out of the circuit. It estimated that roughly 70,000 people attended practice. Bahrain GP chief Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa acknowledged that organisers had underestimated the impact of the crowd and said Saturday had been better.

Salman said more than 100,000 tickets had been sold, including 50,000 to buyers outside Malaysia. With up to 100,000 spectators expected on Sunday, he said organisers still needed to work on how the crowd would leave after the race.