Bahrain GP transport chaos should have been anticipated, says Shahril

Racing enthusiasts faced significant transportation issues while awaiting shuttle buses to reach parking areas and transport hubs during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, claims Shahril Hamdan. The former Umno information chief contended that the authorities should have foreseen this predicament, considering that Malaysia was merely hosting the event, whereas the Bahrain International Circuit was organizing it.

However, he emphasized that the negative experience would reflect poorly on Malaysia, as international visitors would associate it with the country. Hamdan expressed frustration over the authorities' inability to anticipate the issue, stating that it tarnished Malaysia's image. This marks the first time the F1 race was held at Sepang since 2017, after it was canceled due to escalating expenses and dwindling returns.

The venue faced criticism for congestion and lengthy waits for shuttle buses at parking areas and nearby transport hubs. Fans also complained about delays entering and leaving the circuit, with one social media user specifically mentioning people walking along a highway emergency lane during the wait. While Zaidel Baharuddin, deputy president of Muda, suggested it was premature to assign blame, he acknowledged that the three-day GP drew crowds exceeding 200,000 racing enthusiasts.

The Bahrain International Circuit chief executive, Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa, revealed that a record 261,000 spectators attended the event, with 103,000 present at the final race on Sunday.