After shuttle chaos, Sepang circuit chief pitches in as F1 fans wait for buses after second race day

Sepang International Circuit CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif (in white shirt) hands out bottles of water to F1 fans in the long lines waiting for shuttle buses on Day 2 of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix hosted by Sepang on October 3, 2026. — Picture by Threads user @fatinsurayaa via Bernama

First Published: Sunday, 04 Oct 2026 9:35 AM MYT

SEPANG, Oct 4 — Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif stepped in to help fans who had endured a long wait for shuttle buses following the second day of the Formula 1 (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) in Malaysia 2026 yesterday.

Azhan Shafriman and his team were seen on the ground managing the crowd and distributing mineral water to fans waiting for buses, according to posts shared on social media.

One Threads user, @fatinsurayaa_, said Azhan Shafriman and his crew were helping control the crowd and handing out mineral water after some visitors had reportedly fainted.

Another user, @nrfaofdiaries, praised Azhan for personally stepping in to assist fans.

“Honestly, seeing this makes me emotional. Despite everything that happened, SIC’s CEO himself stepped in to manage the crowd and distribute mineral water to fans who needed help,” the post wrote.

Meanwhile, @cxingt described Azhan’s actions as an example of leadership.

Earlier, a social media post showed Azhan Shafriman on the ground to oversee and assist with the flow of buses to the iconic Malaysian circuit.

Several fans praised the improved crowd and traffic management at SIC earlier today, highlighting smoother queues, dedicated lanes for shuttle buses and a stronger presence of staff, marshals and police.

The positive reactions came a day after social media users had highlighted congestion upon leaving SIC, with some reporting lengthy waits for shuttle buses to parking areas and nearby transport hubs.

In July, Formula 1 confirmed Malaysia as the host of the Gulf Air Bahrain GP from Oct 2 to 4, following an agreement between Formula 1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain.

The agreement kept the Bahrain GP on the 2026 F1 calendar after the race was cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Malaysia hosted the Malaysian GP at SIC from 1999 to 2017 before the race was dropped from the F1 calendar. — Bernama