Sepang hopeful of F1 Malaysian GP return: "Matter of time"

Currently, the MotoGP still races annually at the Sepang International Circuit, but for Formula 1, the last Malaysian Grand Prix took place in 2017. However, the GP is missed on the calendar by drivers and fans alike, and a return is certainly not out of the question, according to the local auto and motorsport federation.

"In terms of being the host, it's not a problem. It is a question of who is going to pay and whether we can afford it or not," Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir, president of the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), said according to New Straits Times. "I have no idea what is it (the cost) right now, but definitely it is higher than when we stopped in 2017."

According to the MAM president, this has everything to do with the increased popularity of motorsport's king class. "F1 is more popular than it used to be, it has a new audience after the 'Formula 1: Drive to Survive' Netflix series while a lot of countries are bidding for the race as a statement for their country," he continued.

Will F1 return to Malaysia?

Mokhzani says that despite the race not being held for six years, the popularity of the Sepang International Circuit among F1 enthusiasts and drivers remains. "We get comments from drivers themselves that Sepang is one of the challenging tracks that they want to see back in the calendar. We always have a good relationship with the organisers, we know them since 1996 when we start the discussion to host the race, so it is matter of time," he assures.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh added that more talks are needed with stakeholders, key players in the sector and enforcement agencies to impose stricter measures on race organisers. "I have visited several stakeholders for motorsports, I believe this industry still has more potential to be developed. But we have to ensure safety is the main aspect," Yeoh concludes.