Malaysia is investigating a possible return of Formula 1 to the Sepang International Circuit, after the country emerged as a potential replacement for the Bahrain GP. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has confirmed that discussions are taking place about a possible race at the circuit near Kuala Lumpur. Between 1999 and 2017, Malaysia was a fixture on the F1 calendar.
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Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Mohammed Taufiq Johari announced on Friday that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Malaysian ministry are exploring the possibilities for a new F1 race. “The Prime Minister and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have received preliminary information about the possibility of hosting a Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit,” he stated to Timesport. “This race would serve as a replacement for the Bahrain GP. In that context, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is actively engaged in discussions.”
F1 calendar under pressure
Malaysia’s possible return stems from the uncertainty surrounding the F1 calendar due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In April, the planned Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were already cancelled, but now the race weekends in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are also under pressure. The sport is investigating emergency scenarios in case multiple races cannot proceed. Sepang is considered one of the circuits eligible for a replacement race between the Azerbaijan GP on September 26 and the Singapore GP on October 11.
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Malaysia hosted its last F1 race in 2017, ending an eighteen-year period on the calendar. The Grand Prix disappeared at the time due to rising organizational costs and declining visitor numbers. However, the Sepang International Circuit still holds an FIA Grade 1 license, enabling it to host a Formula 1 event. Max Verstappen won the last Malaysian GP in 2017. He shared the podium with Lewis Hamilton and teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
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