Malaysia won't bring F1 back to Sepang soon due to high costs

Malaysia will not be bringing Formula One back to Sepang in the near term, with the government citing the high cost of staging the race and a crowded national racing calendar. Officials say hosting F1 would require about 300 million ringgit annually, plus tens of millions more for circuit maintenance, and a multi-year commitment to Liberty Media that would total around 1.5 billion ringgit. While the door is not closed, the message is clear: any return would need private backing rather than public funding.

In a parliamentary address, the sports minister emphasized that the financial burden of an F1 bid is a major hurdle. She noted that even though Formula One remains a globally prestigious event with broad fan appeal, the government would not be able to finance the project on its own. She left room for private sector involvement, saying the government is open to collaboration if corporate backers are prepared to shoulder the costs and take on the risks.

The government’s position reflects broader realities facing the Sepang International Circuit and Malaysia’s sports strategy. The circuit’s chief executive has warned that re-entering the F1 calendar is a substantial undertaking....