F1 race here thanks to Agong’s close ties with Bahrain king, says palace

PETALING JAYA : Malaysia’s hosting of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is the result of royal diplomatic efforts that reflect the close ties and strong trust between the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, the palace said today. A statement on Sultan Ibrahim’s Facebook page said he had maintained a good personal relationship with King Hamad since 2017, culminating in his state visit to Bahrain last year.

“The Bahrain Grand Prix faced uncertainty and required immediate resolution to ensure that the prestigious race could continue, following challenges to the F1 race calendar resulting from the armed conflict in West Asia.

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