PM Anwar to take permanent F1 return proposal to Cabinet

KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will bring the prospect of restoring the Malaysian Grand Prix to the Formula 1 calendar before the Cabinet, after holding talks with Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali at Sepang International Circuit today (Oct 4).

Anwar said the meeting, held before the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, touched on the possibility of bringing Formula 1 back to Malaysia on a permanent basis – something Malaysian fans have long hoped to see after the country dropped off the calendar in 2017.

“I had the opportunity to meet Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali before the race began at Sepang International Circuit.

“We discussed the prospect of bringing the Malaysian Grand Prix back to the Formula 1 calendar on a permanent basis, fulfilling the hopes of fans who have long awaited its return to Sepang,” he said in a social media post.

Anwar, however, cautioned that any permanent comeback would take time, given Formula 1’s packed calendar and existing contractual commitments with other host countries.

“Insya-Allah, this matter will be discussed with the Cabinet to examine the available options and an appropriate direction, taking into account the country’s capacity as well as the benefits to the economy and the people,” he said.

The remarks go further than Anwar’s earlier comments to Sky Sports, when he was asked whether Malaysia could host Formula 1 again after this weekend.

“I’m looking forward to it. We’re discussing,” he said.

The conversation has gathered momentum during Formula 1’s return to Sepang after nine years away.

Motorsports Associations of Malaysia president Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir said 105,000 tickets had reportedly been sold for the weekend, while Domenicali pointed to the size of the crowd as evidence of the enthusiasm surrounding the sport’s return.

Malaysia is hosting the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix from Oct 2 to 4 after Formula 1, the FIA and the Malaysian and Bahraini governments agreed to relocate the race to Sepang following its earlier cancellation amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Sepang previously staged the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017.

What began as a one-off return has now opened the door to a wider discussion – this time over whether Formula 1 could make Sepang a regular stop once again.