Domenicali Hails Malaysia-Bahrain Collaboration In Delivering Unique F1 Event
SEPANG, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Formula 1 (F1) President and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali has hailed the successful staging of the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 in Malaysia as an incredible achievement, delivered in just two months.
He said close cooperation between the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) and Sepang International Circuit (SIC) was instrumental in delivering a true representation of the Bahrain GP at Sepang.
“We’ve experienced an incredible Bahrain GP in Malaysia, and I want to recognise the unwavering passion and commitment that His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has for his race and for F1.
“It is thanks to his vision, determination, and agile thinking that we have enjoyed a true representation of the Bahrain event this weekend, and it has been delivered in just two short months.
“His team have worked alongside the Sepang International Circuit team to collectively rise to the challenge,” he said in a statement Monday.
Domenicali added that F1 had also received a warm welcome on its return to Malaysia and SIC for the first time in nearly a decade, during which the sport had undergone significant growth and transformation.
He also paid tribute to the fans for creating an electric atmosphere throughout the race weekend.
“Finally, I must thank the fans – their passion and love for the sport is clear, and they have created an electric atmosphere all weekend.
“Without them, our sport is nothing, and their commitment as we pivoted to deliver this race has been fantastic. We hope they leave with life-long memories of this truly unique moment in F1’s history,” he said.
Meanwhile, International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem echoed Domenicali's sentiment, saying the successful delivery of the GP within a short timeframe reflected the strength of the partnership between Malaysia and Bahrain.
“To see such an extraordinary response from the fans, particularly given the short timeframe in which this event has been delivered, is a tremendous achievement.
“It reflects the strength of the collaboration between Bahrain and Malaysia and the shared determination to make this unique GP a success,” he said.
BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa said the event successfully brought the essence of the Bahrain GP to Malaysia while providing a platform to showcase the kingdom's culture and hospitality to fans in the region.
“This weekend, we truly brought Bahrain to Malaysia. The powerful platform of F1 offered us, together with our colleagues across Team Bahrain, the opportunity to showcase our culture and hospitality to fans in the region at this iconic venue,” he said.
He said delivering an event of such magnitude within a short period would not have been possible without BIC's strong partnership with SIC and support from F1, FIA, Bahrain Motor Federation and the Motorsports Association of Malaysia.
“Together with the support of F1, the FIA, Bahrain Motor Federation and the Motorsports Association of Malaysia, this weekend has been a showcase of teamwork, dedication and the coming together of two nations to deliver an historic moment for F1,” he said.
SIC chairman Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz said the successful staging demonstrated what could be achieved through close cooperation and a shared vision.
She said BIC and SIC had worked side by side over the past two months, supported by the government and other stakeholders, to deliver a world-class race weekend.
“Together with the dedicated team at SIC and the invaluable support of the Government and our stakeholders, we have delivered a world-class race weekend that will live long in the memories of fans.
“This achievement is a testament to what can be accomplished when organisations, communities and partners come together with a shared vision,” she said.
-- BERNAMA
