Tom Clarkson to miss Bahrain GP, ending F1 attendance streak since 1998

Tom Clarkson will miss the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on October 4, ending his remarkable streak of attending every Formula 1 race since 1998. The popular FIA press conference host and Beyond the Grid presenter will be away on tour with 1996 world champion Damon Hill, leaving Rachel Brookes to step in for the rescheduled race at Sepang.

Why it matters:

Clarkson has been a constant presence in the F1 paddock for nearly three decades, hosting official FIA press conferences and building a loyal following through his podcast. His absence underscores how the reshuffled 2026 calendar, with the Bahrain round moved from its original April slot to October, can disrupt even the most established routines. It also marks a significant return for Brookes, who left Sky Sports in June and has now taken on freelance FIA duties.

The details:

• Clarkson and Hill's UK tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Hill's 1996 world championship with Williams, has proven so successful that five additional dates were added in Australia and New Zealand, running from September 28 to October 5.
• The Bahrain GP, originally scheduled for April, was cancelled and later reinstated at Sepang for October 4, placing it squarely in the middle of the tour's overseas leg.
• Brookes, who deputised for Clarkson at the Spanish Grand Prix press conference, is understood to be engaged by the FIA on a freelance basis and will also appear at the Bahrain GP.
• Clarkson had hosted the drivers' press conference in Madrid on Thursday, just days before the clash was confirmed.

What's next:

Barring a change of plans, Clarkson's near three-decade attendance streak will end next month. Brookes is set to handle press conference duties at Sepang, while Clarkson continues his tour with Hill. Whether this becomes a permanent shift or a one-off scheduling conflict remains to be seen.