Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, on Friday marked the start of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit as title sponsor of the race, a position it has held since Bahrain brought Formula 1 to the Middle East in 2004.
The three-day event, running October 2–4, is the first time the Bahrain Grand Prix has been staged outside the Kingdom.
At the Sepang International Circuit, the Gulf Air Fan Zone will be open to all ticket holders throughout the weekend, bringing fans closer to the action of the race and to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Gulf Air's presence will also be felt above the circuit. On race day, Sunday, October 4, the airline will perform a ceremonial fly-past over Sepang International Circuit, its first at a Formula 1 race outside Bahrain. The fly-past, a tradition of the Bahrain Grand Prix at home, will be operated by a Gulf Air Boeing 787.
Martin Gauss, CEO of Gulf Air, said: "The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix brings together two worlds built on the same foundations: engineering excellence, absolute discipline on safety, and teamwork under pressure. For every driver on the grid there are hundreds of engineers, strategists and mechanics behind the garage door. For every Gulf Air flight there are engineers, dispatchers, ground crews and cabin crew working to the same standard, where margins are measured in seconds and nothing is left to chance. That is why this partnership has lasted more than two decades, and why it has always felt natural to see Gulf Air's name at the heart of this race.
“This year our partnership travels further than ever. Hosting the race in Sepang on the same week we launched direct flights to Kuala Lumpur makes this more than a race weekend for Gulf Air. It is a milestone moment between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Malaysia."
Beyond Formula 1, Gulf Air supports a number of sporting events, reflecting the airline's long-standing commitment to representing Bahrain on international platforms. – TradeArabia News Service
