Malaysia Seeks F1 Return Amid Rising Race Costs, Talks Ongoing

Malaysia currently has no plans to bring back the Formula 1 Grand Prix due to prohibitively high costs and a packed racing calendar, as confirmed by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh. The Sepang International Circuit, which hosted races from 1999 to 2017, faces challenges including race fees quoted around $70 million annually, plus additional setup costs, making a return financially difficult. The CEO of Sepang International Circuit expressed regret over losing the event and noted government and corporate interest in reviving it, but emphasized the need for unified support akin to Singapore's successful hosting model. The broader F1 landscape shows increased competition for calendar slots, with traditional circuits like Belgium's Spa shifting to rotational appearances and Germany's Grand Prix unlikely to return soon due to similar financial hurdles. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali highlighted that history alone does not secure a race's place on the calendar, and many countries are eager to host events, underscoring the competitive and costly nature of securing an F1 race. While challenging, a Malaysian GP comeback is not ruled out if stakeholders can align on the necessary financial and organizational commitments.