SIC CEO says ticket prices for F1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP in Sepang will be decided by Bahrain as all proceeds go to them
TICKET prices for the Formula 1 (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled to take place at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from Oct 2 to 4 will be decided by Bahrain, said SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif.
He said Bahrain bears the Formula 1 hosting rights fee for the race and based on initial negotiations, all ticket sales proceeds will be channeled to the country, thus making the decision on ticket prices subject to Bahrain.
However, he said the matter is still under negotiation with the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) and any changes will be communicated from time to time.
“What I understand from the initial discussions is that all ticket sales proceeds will be returned to Bahrain. So we do not have absolute power. I know many netizens want cheap tickets or ‘Rahmah/Madani Tickets’. I will try my best to get a special price, maybe a special MyKad price, but the final decision is in Bahrain’s hands,” he told reporters at a press conference with SIC here today.
He said that so far the negotiations were still focused on the operational aspects and had not entered the commercial phase involving ticket sales, hospitality packages and sales.
He said that the Bahraini team is expected to arrive in Malaysia next week to hold face-to-face negotiations which are expected to provide a clearer picture of the ticketing, hospitality and other commercial matters.
“Their team will come here next week physically, so we will have more clarity. This week, we are still having online meetings,” he said.
Commenting further, Azhan Shafriman said tickets are expected to go on sale in the first week of August or earlier than that date.
“I hope I can provide more details in the coming days and, hopefully, we can announce ticket sales as soon as possible,” he said.
Last Sunday, Formula 1 confirmed Malaysia as the host of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix following an agreement signed between Formula 1, the FIA and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain.
The event scheduled to take place at SIC will retain its original name of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia subject to the finalisation of the agreement and official approval, including from the World Motor Sport Council.
The agreement allows the Bahrain Grand Prix to remain on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar after the race in question was cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Malaysia previously hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang from 1999 to 2017 before the race was dropped from the Formula 1 calendar.
