Malaysia’s return to the Formula 1 calendar cannot be ruled out. The Sepang International Circuit hopes that private funding could one day make the race viable again, even if the government refuses to financially support the event.
Malaysia exited the Formula 1 calendar after the 2017 season, immediately before Liberty Media took over the series from CVC Capital and took it to new heights.
In recent years, racetracks around the world have seen record attendance, improving their bottom lines. At the same time, Liberty Media actively worked with promoters to increase the financial viability of each Grand Prix.
Sepang mourns the farewell
In view of this improved financial climate, the management in Sepang has recently become increasingly proactive in seeking a return to the Malaysian race and described the exit at the time as a “mistake”.
However, the Malaysian government has made it clear that it will not provide any funding to revive the event. Liberty Media is reportedly asking for a signing fee of around $70 million.
Still, the circuit remains hopeful that Malaysia could one day return to the Formula 1 map, even if a comeback seems unlikely in the near future.
Return a matter of time?
“I’m pretty sure Formula 1 will return one day, but not now,” explains track managing director Azhan Shafriman Hanif to Motorsport.com. “I think the government’s efforts at the moment are focused solely on the needs of the public rather than spending millions of dollars and ringgit to pay for Formula 1.”
“But I firmly believe that we can [das Rennen] with the right support from companies can bring back in the future. At the moment, however, the answer is no for us. But I really hope that Formula 1 comes back one day.”
Asked whether it would be possible for Sepang to host a Formula One race without government funding, Shafriman says: “I wouldn’t say it’s impossible. We just need to find the right partner to come in. But of course, if they pay a lot of money, assets and so on, what do they get in return?”
Government not on board
“So those are the things that we need to take into account and discuss further. But again, if Formula 1 ever comes back, we are ready to host it. And hopefully then the government won’t be burdened with the entry fee and so on.”
The Formula 1 calendar has already reached its maximum capacity of 24 races, making it difficult to accommodate new or returning tracks at short notice.
A potential application from Malaysia also has to face strong competition. These include Thailand, where the government has allocated $1.2 billion for a street race in Bangkok. Rwanda and Argentina should also try for a place in Formula 1.
Is there even space?
Potential slots on the calendar could become available as Zandvoort leaves after 2026 and Spa-Francorchamps joins a rotation system that will see it not host races in 2028 and 2030.
Shafriman admits that finding a place in the crowded Formula 1 calendar will be a challenge, but stresses that Sepang’s infrastructure remains up to standard.
“There’s a lot of competition out there. We’re not the only ones following Formula 1. There are other countries lining up and everything,” he admits.
Standards fit
“If you look at all the other tracks in the world, they’re reinventing themselves. They’re doing new things and so on.”
“But as far as the homologation of the track is concerned, as far as the facilities that we have here are concerned, we just need to improve a little bit here and there so that we can prepare for the event itself.”
Sepang’s current MotoGP contract expires at the end of 2026, but the circuit is confident it can sign a new multi-year deal by early next year.
Also MotoGP at Liberty Media
Formula 1 owner Liberty Media now holds a majority stake in MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports.
“At the moment our main goal and our main concern is to continue to host MotoGP in the future. And hopefully, in addition to MotoGP, the other international races will also come here,” said Shafriman.