{"id":36932,"date":"2025-08-19T09:40:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=36932"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:40:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:40:04","slug":"f1-malaysian-gp-organisers-discuss-potential-f1-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/08\/19\/f1-malaysian-gp-organisers-discuss-potential-f1-return\/","title":{"rendered":"F1: Malaysian GP organisers discuss potential F1 return"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The F1 calendar has changed substantially since Liberty Media&#8217;s takeover, with several new venues replacing traditional circuits on the schedule.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/05\/13\/barcelona-in-negotiations-to-remain-on-f1-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">traditional European circuits<\/a> have been the most at risk of losing their slots.<\/p>\n<p>Belgium&#8217;s Spa circuit is a useful case study related to this shift. The iconic circuit will only feature in F1 on a rotational basis when their new contract takes effect in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>F1 CEO <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/08\/08\/f1-could-have-more-sprint-races-says-stefano-domenicali\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Stefano Domenicali<\/a> has emphasised that a circuit&#8217;s history in the sport is not enough to guarantee a space on the calendar.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, this does not mean previous F1 Grand Prix &#8211; like Malaysia &#8211; should be ruled out from making a comeback.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"LH1h5r-ZQdhliGXiHvh2qg\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2180385740\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'LH1h5r-ZQdhliGXiHvh2qg',sig:'pcxudpKT_j04bRvQDkdbqlHHNrd0pJWQiOUe8y_RJyQ=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2180385740',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Malaysian GP CEO explains roadmap back to F1<\/h2>\n<p>Circuits often divide opinion in <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/08\/18\/f1-honda-seen-as-potential-wild-card-ahead-of-2026-regulations\/\" target=\"_self\">Formula 1<\/a>, with some receiving a more positive response from fans than others.<\/p>\n<p>Then again, there are some races that are almost unanimously seen as entertaining and worthy of a place on the calendar.<\/p>\n<p>For a long time, Malaysia&#8217;s Sepang International Circuit fell under this category.<\/p>\n<p>Sepang&#8217;s unique layout and unpredictable weather conditions consistently created exciting and dramatic races.<\/p>\n<p>Many of F1&#8217;s iconic most races from the last decade (such as the 2012, 2013 and 2016 editions) were at Sepang.<\/p>\n<p>However, at a time when competition to join the calendar was less fierce, the Malaysian GP organisers did not sign a new contract with F1.<\/p>\n<p>This decision, CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif argues, was a crucial mistake.<\/p>\n<p>The Sepang International boss explains that whilst returning to the sport is challenging, it it not impossible.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past,&#8221;<\/em> he told the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nst.com.my\/sports\/motor-sports\/2025\/08\/1261262\/dropping-formula-one-was-mistake-says-sepang-boss\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New Straits Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;We let Formula 1 go, and now it is very hard to get it back&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;There is a waiting lase to get back in [F1], and of course, the costs are very expensive. We were quoted $70 million race fees [for a calendar slot].&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Hanif explains that returning to F1 necessitates strong commitment:<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;It is not just SIC [Sepang International Circuit] that wants Formula 1. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Many stakeholders, from both the government as well as the corporate sector, also want it back.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;We have to look at how Singapore is hosting it. They have everyone onboard in making it a success&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;It has to belike that if we bring it back here.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"ie7bIkmoR1NQ7D2euEK5KQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2180385659\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'ie7bIkmoR1NQ7D2euEK5KQ',sig:'Mu51dxe_83pX6HP-ERaGomNAX4SlRDVRPQ-JwA20sp8=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2180385659',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4>Is an F1 return to Malaysia realistic?<\/h4>\n<p>For more reasons than one, Formula 1&#8217;s absence from Sepang has been a huge loss in recent seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from the circuit&#8217;s history of producing excellent races, it is a circuit wide enough to accommodate the current generation of cars &#8211; something other venues struggle to accomplish.<\/p>\n<p>From a financial perspective, it will be difficult &#8211; but not impossible &#8211; for Malaysia to make a comeback.<\/p>\n<p>Assuming the race has support from various stakeholders, Sepang could undoubtedly make a convincing bid to Liberty Media.<\/p>\n<p>With some tracks (such as <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/07\/09\/ferrari-prepare-important-belgian-gp-upgrades\/\" target=\"_self\">Spa<\/a>) only signing contracts to stay in F1 on a semi-permanent basis, there will be openings for Sepang in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Whilst a return in 2026 is unlikely, there are enough expiring contracts to make a comeback in 2027 or 2028 possible.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, with the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2025\/08\/16\/f1-portimao-aiming-for-calendar-return-in-2027\/\" target=\"_self\">Portimao<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/03\/04\/f1-news-negotiations-over-turkey-calendar-return-underway\/\" target=\"_self\">Istanbul<\/a> also in talks with Liberty Media, this will be an intense process.<\/p>\n<p><em>Main photo: Clive Mason\/Getty Images (via Red Bull content pool)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The F1 calendar has changed substantially since Liberty Media&#8217;s takeover, with several new venues replacing traditional circuits on the schedule. In recent years, traditional European circuits have been the most at risk of losing their slots. Belgium&#8217;s Spa circuit is a useful case study related to this shift. The iconic circuit will only feature in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4927,"featured_media":36933,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[2452,714,1905],"class_list":["post-36932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-formula-1","category-news","tag-f1-2025-season","tag-malaysia-gp","tag-sepang"],"modified_by":"Jaden Diaz-Ndisang","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4927"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36932"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36934,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36932\/revisions\/36934"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}