{
  "id": 11679349,
  "title": "Anwar visits Sepang for F1 GP qualifying round, attends welcome dinner hosted by Bahrain crown prince",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/anwar-visits-sepang-for-f1-gp-qualifying-round-attends-welcome-dinner",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-03T12:27:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/03/anwar-visits-sepang-for-f1-gp-qualifying-round-attends-welcome-dinner-hosted-by-bahrain-crown-prince/237579"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia to witness the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying session on October 3. Upon arrival, Anwar was greeted by government officials, including Chief Secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Petronas CEO Tengku Muhammad Taufik, and SIC Chairman Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz. He then proceeded to inspect the Mercedes-AMG Petronas pit area for approximately 15 minutes.\n\nFollowing the qualifying session, Anwar attended a welcome dinner hosted by Bahrain's Crown Prince Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa at the circuit's paddock. The F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix returned to Malaysia after a nine-year gap, with the circuit last hosting an F1 race in 2017. The 56-lap race is set to commence tomorrow at 3pm.\n\nThe event signifies the resumption of Formula One racing in Malaysia, following a successful agreement between Formula One, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain. This arrangement ensures the Bahrain Grand Prix remains on the 2026 F1 calendar, after it was unable to take place in Bahrain due to regional circumstances. Formula One made its debut at Sepang in 1999, hosting the Malaysian Grand Prix until 2017.",
  "summary": "SEPANG, Oct 3 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today attended the Formula One (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "‘It’s happening in Malaysia’: Bahrain GP switch surprised race chief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/its-happening-in-malaysia-bahrain-gp-switch-surprised-race-chief",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:09:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Verstappen claims first pole of season at Bahrain GP in Malaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/verstappen-claims-first-pole-of-season-at-bahrain-gp-in-malaysia",
        "published": "2026-10-03T09:12:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Verstappen claims first pole of season at Bahrain GP in Malaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/verstappen-claims-first-pole-of-season-at-bahrain-gp-in-malaysia-11651983",
        "published": "2026-10-03T09:19:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Red Bull’s Verstappen grabs pole position for Bahrain GP",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/red-bulls-verstappen-grabs-pole-position-for-bahrain-gp",
        "published": "2026-10-03T09:52:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Red Bull’s Verstappen grabs pole position for Bahrain GP in Malaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/red-bulls-verstappen-grabs-pole-position-for-bahrain-gp-in-malaysia",
        "published": "2026-10-03T10:03:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Red Bull’s Verstappen grabs pole position for Bahrain GP",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/red-bulls-verstappen-grabs-pole-position-for-bahrain-gp-11665180",
        "published": "2026-10-03T10:04:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Verstappen ends pole drought with Bahrain GP qualifying win in Sepang",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/verstappen-ends-pole-drought-with-bahrain-gp-qualifying-win-in-sepang",
        "published": "2026-10-03T10:50:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Verstappen claims first pole of season at Bahrain GP in Malaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/verstappen-claims-first-pole-of-season-at-bahrain-gp-in-malaysia-11691712",
        "published": "2026-10-03T12:56:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}