Malaysia must treat Oct SIC race as launchpad for permanent F1 return, say observers
MALAYSIA should fully capitalise on the opportunity to host a Formula One race this October as the first step towards bringing the championship back to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) on a permanent basis, according to industry observers.
Former Mercedes-AMG Petronas development driver Jazeman Firhan Jaafar said that although the coming race is a one-off event, it presents a major opportunity that should not be wasted.
“This is a huge opportunity for Malaysia. If we do not make the most of it, it will be another missed opportunity. F1 has returned to its golden era. Its popularity is far greater than before, and Malaysia must seize this opportunity to prove that we are still capable of hosting a world-class race,” he told Bernama.
He said F1’s return could generate a spillover effect across various sectors, including job creation, technology transfer, infrastructure development, tourism and international media exposure. “Everyone should recognise the true value of this race, not merely in terms of ticket sales and promotion, but also its impact on the economy and national development.”
He also believes that F1’s surge in popularity among younger audiences, driven by the Drive to Survive documentary series and Liberty Media’s social media strategy, has made the event’s impact far greater today than when Malaysia last hosted a race in 2017.
Jazeman acknowledged that Malaysia’s path to becoming a permanent host again will not be easy, as the F1 calendar has become increasingly crowded. He said hosting a one-off race could be the ideal starting point if Malaysia succeeds in demonstrating its ability to stage the event to the highest standards. “We need to give 120 per cent in every aspect of the event, from organisation, traffic management and security to media facilities, spectator experience and overall operations.”
Meanwhile, former sports journalist Asan Ahmad said Malaysia should not be content with hosting just one race, but instead use the opportunity as a springboard to regain a permanent place on the F1 calendar. He said a long-term contract would provide better value than staging a one-off event. “The cost of upgrading the circuit, paddock and media centre to FIA Grade 1 standards is substantial. If it is only for a single race, it becomes a sunk cost. But if the contract runs for five to 10 years, the investment can be amortised.”
A long-term contract would also give confidence to tourism industry players, airlines, hotels and corporate sponsors to plan investments well in advance. Hosting F1 on a permanent basis would strengthen Petronas’ position as a global energy brand through a home race.
He stressed that the government should not bear the full cost of hosting the event. Instead, a public-private partnership model should be considered. “The government should not return to F1 merely to continue serving as an ad hoc host. If Malaysia truly wants F1 to return, the objective must be to regain a permanent place on the race calendar through a more sustainable business model.”
He said F1’s return should be leveraged to strengthen the country’s motorsport industry, produce more local engineers and technical specialists, and create opportunities for young Malaysian talent.
On Sunday, it was announced that Malaysia is set to welcome F1 racing back to SIC after a nine-year absence by hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix from Oct 2 to 4. SIC hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017.
