Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2023 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2023 Formula 1 Standings
    • 2023 Formula 1 Driver Line-Up
    • 2023 Formula 1 Driver Penalty Points
    • 2024 Formula 1 Driver Line-Up
  • Formula E
    • 2022/23 Formula E Standings
    • 2022/23 Formula E Calendar
    • 2022/23 Formula E Team/Driver Line-up
  • IndyCar
    • 2023 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2023 IndyCar Driver Line-Up
    • 2023 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2023 WRC Calendar
    • 2023 WRC Standings
    • 2023 WRC Driver Line-up
  • MotoGP
    • 2023 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2023 MotoGP Team/Rider Line-Up
    • 2023 MotoGP Standings
  • WEC
    • 2023 WEC Calendar
    • 2023 WEC Hypercar Team/Driver Line-up
  • IMSA
    • 2023 IMSA GTP Team/Driver Line-up
    • 2023 IMSA Calendar
  • More
    • Formula 2
      • 2023 Formula 2 Race Calendar
      • 2023 Formula 2 Driver Line-up
    • Formula 3
      • 2023 Formula 3 Race Calendar
      • 2023 Formula 3 Driver Line-up
    • DTM
    • WSeries
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2023 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2023 Formula 1 Standings
    • 2023 Formula 1 Driver Line-Up
    • 2023 Formula 1 Driver Penalty Points
    • 2024 Formula 1 Driver Line-Up
  • Formula E
    • 2022/23 Formula E Standings
    • 2022/23 Formula E Calendar
    • 2022/23 Formula E Team/Driver Line-up
  • IndyCar
    • 2023 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2023 IndyCar Driver Line-Up
    • 2023 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2023 WRC Calendar
    • 2023 WRC Standings
    • 2023 WRC Driver Line-up
  • MotoGP
    • 2023 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2023 MotoGP Team/Rider Line-Up
    • 2023 MotoGP Standings
  • WEC
    • 2023 WEC Calendar
    • 2023 WEC Hypercar Team/Driver Line-up
  • IMSA
    • 2023 IMSA GTP Team/Driver Line-up
    • 2023 IMSA Calendar
  • More
    • Formula 2
      • 2023 Formula 2 Race Calendar
      • 2023 Formula 2 Driver Line-up
    • Formula 3
      • 2023 Formula 3 Race Calendar
      • 2023 Formula 3 Driver Line-up
    • DTM
    • WSeries
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Malaysian motorsport chief: F1 return ‘a matter of time’

by Taylor Powling
4 months ago
A A
0
Malaysian motorsport chief: F1 return ‘a matter of time’

Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Mercedes AMG F1 W08 and Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB13 at the start of the race. 01.10.2017. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 15, Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The return of the Malaysian Grand Prix to the Formula 1 calendar is a “matter of time”, according to the president of the Motorsports Association Malaysia (MAM).

Malaysia began hosting a round of the World Championship in 1999, with the event being held annually at the Sepang circuit until it dropped off the roster at the end of 2017.

The president at the time, Najib Razak, explained that rising costs were the main reason behind the early cancellation of its contract and the race has not been featured on the F1 calendar since.

But, in a recent development, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir has confirmed that Malaysia has a bigger desire to host an F1 round now than it did when it opted to discontinue its grand prix, provided it makes sense from a financial standpoint.

RelatedPosts

Motorsport Week’s F1 2023 Japanese GP Driver Ratings

Motorsport Week’s F1 2023 Japanese GP Driver Ratings

7 hours ago
Magnussen criticises ‘desperate’ Perez move that ‘ended our race’

Magnussen criticises ‘desperate’ Perez move that ‘ended our race’

8 hours ago

“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,” the MAM president told the 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.”

The MAM president claims they still receive comments from the current drivers stating that they miss the technical challenge provided by the popular Sepang circuit.

He, therefore, believes that the prospect of Malaysia marking a comeback to the F1 calendar won’t necessarily be far away.

“We get comments from drivers themselves that Sepang is one of the challenging tracks that they want to see back in the calendar,” he declared.

“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 [a] matter of time.”

The drivers on the podium say thank you to Malayia and their Grand Prix. 01.10.2017. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 15, Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday.

Mahathir also believes the substantial increase in popularity brought by the hit Netflix series Drive to Survive has created a higher demand for hosting an F1 event.

“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.”

The Minister of Youth and Sports of Malaysia, Hannah Yeoh, continued on by underlining that a venture into motorsports has a greater scope for development but safety must be prioritised.

“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,” she added.

Last September, however, Azhan Shafriman Hanif, chief executive of the Sepang International Circuit, said that reigniting the Malaysian F1 event was not under consideration until the country’s economic situation had improved.

“At this juncture, the answer is no, not for the time being,” he clarified. Perhaps in another two to three years when the economy has stabilised.”

Although F1 hasn’t been a fixture in Malaysia since its removal from the calendar, the Sepang circuit continues to annually host a round of the MotoGP World Championship.

Tags: F1MalaysianGP
Share633Tweet396

Related Posts

Motorsport Week’s F1 2023 Japanese GP Driver Ratings
Formula 1

Motorsport Week’s F1 2023 Japanese GP Driver Ratings

7 hours ago
Magnussen criticises ‘desperate’ Perez move that ‘ended our race’
Formula 1

Magnussen criticises ‘desperate’ Perez move that ‘ended our race’

8 hours ago
IndyCar reveals significantly-changed 2024 schedule
IndyCar

IndyCar reveals significantly-changed 2024 schedule

10 hours ago
Load More

Upcoming Races

#EventLocationDate
14Dutch GPZandvoort27 August
15Italian GPMonza03 September
16Singapore GPMarina Bay17 September
17Japanese GPSuzuka24 September
18Qatar GPLusail08 October

Click here for the full 2023 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Max Verstappen400
Sergio Perez223
Lewis Hamilton190
Fernando Alonso174
Carlos Sainz150
Charles Leclerc135
Lando Norris115
George Russell115
Oscar Piastri57
Lance Stroll47

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Motorsport Week’s F1 2023 Japanese GP Driver Ratings
Formula 1

Motorsport Week’s F1 2023 Japanese GP Driver Ratings

September 25, 2023
Magnussen criticises ‘desperate’ Perez move that ‘ended our race’
Formula 1

Magnussen criticises ‘desperate’ Perez move that ‘ended our race’

September 25, 2023
Bottas plans to speak with Sargeant after Japanese GP clash
Formula 1

Bottas plans to speak with Sargeant after Japanese GP clash

September 25, 2023

Follow Motorsport Week

Motorsport Week

© 2023 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • Championship Standings
    • 2023 F1 Calendar
    • Team/Driver Line-Up
    • Session Results
    • Driver Penalty Points
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2022/23 Formula E Standings
    • 2022/23 Formula E Calendar
    • Session Results
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • Calendar
    • Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • WSeries
    • DTM
    • IMSA
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
X