The Malaysian government is carrying out a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix later this year as the Middle East war continues to threaten the latter stages of the 2026 Formula One season, AFP reports.

Youth and sports minister Mohammed Taufiq Johari says they are “actively conducting discussions and assessing the proposal” in a statement from the Malaysian government.

He adds that the government has received “preliminary information regarding the possibility” of hosting a race at Sepang, which hosted the last of 19 races in 2017, as a possible replacement for a mooted race in Bahrain.

Formula One’s original calendar was for 24 races, but Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April were cancelled because of the ongoing war. Upcoming events in neighbouring Qatar and Abu Dhabi are also now in doubt.