Anwar says Malaysia is in talks on permanent F1 return to Sepang; FIA asks for five-year plan

Centre · 1Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Sunday 4 October that Malaysia is in talks with Formula One about bringing the Malaysian Grand Prix back as a permanent fixture on the calendar. 1 Centre · 1Anwar said he discussed it with Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali on the sidelines of the race, but cautioned that the effort would "take time" because of the tight calendar and existing contract commitments with host countries; he said the proposal is at an early stage and that the Cabinet would weigh Malaysia's capability to host and the economic and public benefits. 1 Centre · 1Before the race, Anwar told Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle, "We're discussing," and after it he wrote in Malay on social media, "Hope we meet again in Sepang. Insya-Allah!" 2

Centre · 1FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told a media roundtable, as quoted by Bernama, that Malaysia deserves a return and that Formula One Management is very open to it, but that Malaysia should "have a business plan covering a minimum of five years, and we will support it"; he added Malaysia would first have to decide whether hosting suits its economic and tourism policies. 1 Centre · 1Sepang hosted the Bahrain Grand Prix as a one-off after the April race in Bahrain could not go ahead because of the Iran war and the situation in the Middle East; the circuit last held a Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017, having hosted the race from 1999, and Malaysia dropped it over rising costs and licensing fees. 1 Centre · 2Malaysia was chosen as host in July under a deal in which Bahrain's state-run circuit kept full operational authority over the commercial side, including ticket sales and providing hundreds of marshals and officials; Bahrain bore the cost of the race, while Malaysia spent RM10 million to RM16 million on preparations. 2 1

Centre · 2A permanent slot would cost at least RM300 million (US$73.3 million) a year, according to Sepang projections reported by both outlets; Hong Leong Investment Bank estimated the weekend's race generated about RM1.3 billion in revenue, and the Motorsports Association of Malaysia's president Mokhzani Mahathir said a revived race would have a significant economic impact and that the circuit "can do it". 1 2 Centre · 2More than 260,000 spectators attended, which Bernama reported as a Sepang record, beating the 126,690 at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix. 1 2 Centre · 2The weekend was marred by transport and crowd-management problems: fans faced long shuttle bus queues and some walked several kilometres, with the South China Morning Post citing local media reports of thousands of vehicles stuck for more than six hours after the race and some walking up to 10km; Sepang International Circuit acknowledged the complaints in a Saturday statement and said it was working with transport partners and authorities. 1 2

Centre · 1Many local fans blamed the Bahraini organisers rather than Malaysia, and a video showed Sepang chief executive Azhan Shafriman Hanif handing out free water to queuing fans after Bahrain's workers had reportedly left. 2 Centre · 2Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the race, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli was second and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton came from 18th to finish third; the South China Morning Post described a sudden downpour causing technical failures and tyre-choice difficulties. 1 2