Why Malaysia is hosting F1's Bahrain Grand Prix in a haze of air pollution

The ‘Bahrain Grand Prix In Malaysia’ is one of the stranger names for a race in Formula 1 history.

The Iran war , forest fires and plenty of nostalgia are all talking points this week as F1 gears up for a Bahrain GP held 3,750 miles (6,000 kilometers) away from its nominal host nation.

The last time F1 raced at the Sepang circuit in 2017, 12 of the 22 drivers on this year's grid had yet to make their F1 debuts. Current standings leader Kimi Antonelli had just turned 11.

F1 was originally meant to race in Bahrain back in March but that race and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were called off as Iran struck both countries in its response to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.

Losing two races in lucrative Middle East markets was a financial hit to F1 and its teams, and adding a replacement event in Malaysia was meant to offset that impact. Keeping the Bahrain GP name followed extensive talks involving the governments of both countries.

Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, said the decision to move the race was a sign of his country’s “commitment to, and passion for (F1)."

The race slots in between the Azerbaijan GP and next week's race in nearby Singapore.

Bahrain is reviving an old F1 tradition by joining Switzerland, San Marino and Luxembourg as countries which were the official hosts of F1 races actually taking place elsewhere.

In those earlier cases from the 1980s and 1990s, F1 wanted a country like France, Italy or Germany to get a second race but had to work around a rule limiting each country to one event.

With security concerns persisting ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix in November and the season finale in Abu Dhabi in December, F1 has considered a fallback option in Europe, with Italy’s Imola circuit as the favorite. F1 could potentially keep the branding of a Middle East race for that, too.

When it rains at Sepang it pours.

During the Malaysian Grand Prix's previous run from 1999-2017, the track became notorious for sudden downpours which made for thrilling races and some unexpected results.

Rain and even thunderstorms are possible this weekend, setting up what would be the first wet race since a major regulation change for 2026. The closest F1 has come to it since then was the Dutch Grand Prix where rain arrived just as drivers finished the sprint race .

Even if it stays dry, visibility may not be great for drivers and fans because air pollution has been making for a hazy view.

Malaysia’s haze crisis is being driven largely by forest and peat fires in neighboring Indonesia, made worse by the dry weather.

Authorities are monitoring air quality and hotspots, with the government conducting cloud seeding when conditions permit to alleviate the situation. High pollution levels can cause breathing problems, and eye or throat irritation especially for vulnerable people.

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