Malaysian F1 fans have long been hoping to see the sport return to Sepang, with ongoing discussions over whether bringing F1 back would be worth the cost.
However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said Malaysia’s return to the F1 calendar is unlikely due to the exorbitant costs involved.
F1 hosting fees is estimated at RM300 million
In a statement, the Former Minister of Youth and Sports explained that bringing F1 back to Malaysia would not be feasible due to the high costs involved, with hosting fees alone estimated at RM300 million a year and another RM10 million needed for circuit maintenance.
She said she had been asked about the possibility of bringing F1 back since 2023, both inside and outside Parliament, but her answer had remained the same.
“Hosting fees alone are estimated at RM300 million a year, while another RM10 million would be needed for circuit maintenance. In comparison, RM10 million could fund the Road to Gold programme for an entire year, while RM300 million could support sports development across 20 disciplines for 363 elite athletes and nearly 10,000 talent development athletes each year.”
She also said Malaysia would be better off focusing on hosting MotoGP, which would be a more affordable option.
“F1 in Malaysia would now depend on the affordability”
Hannah noted the Bahrain GP’s move to Sepang International Circuit was made possible following tensions in the Middle East, with the event proceeding with the blessing of His Majesty the King of Malaysia.
“Congratulations also to the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for taking on the challenge and opportunity this unique offer presented. Well done Sepang Circuit led by Chairman Datin Anita Azrina and CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif for pulling off such a difficult task in slightly more than 2 months and managing all the logistical limitations involved.
“The future of F1 in Malaysia would now depend on the imagination, affordability and willingness of the public and private sector coming together,” the statement concluded.
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