Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has the capability and experience to host Formula One again if Malaysia gets the opportunity to bring the race back in the future, Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) president Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir said.
He said SIC’s experience in hosting F1 remained intact, allowing its management to handle the operational demands of the event.
However, Mokhzani said any decision to bring F1 back on a permanent basis would ultimately depend on the government, with the economic impact and financial requirements of hosting the race needing to be assessed.
He said the benefits could extend beyond the circuit, as international visitors would stay in Kuala Lumpur and travel to other destinations, generating wider economic activity.
While MAM would support the continuation of F1 in Malaysia, Mokhzani said government support might be needed given the financial resources required to stage the event.
For a potential return, he suggested a five-year contract using a “3+2” arrangement, which he said would provide greater certainty for organisers, spectators and Formula One management.
Mokhzani also pointed to strong attendance at this year’s race as evidence of continued interest among Malaysian fans, with about 105,000 tickets reportedly sold.
Malaysia hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix at SIC from 1999 to 2017 before the race was removed from the F1 calendar. The circuit is currently hosting the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix from Oct 2 to 4 after the original race was postponed amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia, according to Bernama.
