KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 – The return of Formula One (F1) racing to Sepang International Circuit (SIC) this October has created a buzz among motorsports fans — marking a thrilling comeback after a nine-year hiatus since Malaysia last hosted the event in 2017.

As Malaysia prepares to reclaim its spot on the global motorsports stage, let’s explore how this year’s race will differ from previous rounds during Malaysia’s extensive history as the host country.

In pure ringgit terms, the 2026 edition — a one-off race with Malaysia stepping in for Bahrain due to disruptions from the US-Iran conflict in West Asia — is shaping up to be a very different financial equation from the 1999–2017 era.

Below is a look at Malaysia’s F1 hosting this year, by the numbers.

  • From 19 years as a host to a one-off replacement
  • Years as a full-time host: 19 seasons (1999–2017)
  • Years since last race in Malaysia: 9 years

Under the revised calendar, Malaysia is slotted into Bahrain’s original race weekend, with Sepang returning as the Asian leg early in the season.

Hosting fee: From paying over RM300 million to paying RM0

When Malaysia hosted F1 between 1999 and 2017, the main point of contention was the annual licence fee paid to Formula One Management (FOM), which amounted to hundreds of millions of ringgits.

SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman was quoted saying that Bahrain’s FOM fees are between US$70 million (RM298 million) to US$80 million, which Malaysia is exempt from paying as it has already been paid by Bahrain.

These whopping FOM fees, coupled with fluctuating attendance and broadcast rights value, were repeatedly cited by the government as reasons to end the contract in 2017.

In other words, Malaysia is effectively getting the global F1 spotlight this year without the single largest cost item that made the race politically and financially contentious in the past.

For this year’s race, Azhan told Bernama that Malaysia will only need to spend an estimated RM40 million to prepare SIC for the return of F1.

The potential economic impact

The potential economic impact is substantial, with tourism receipts from the race greatly anticipated.

Reports indicate an increase in hotel bookings, particularly around the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where nearby accommodations are experiencing rising rates on booking sites due to higher demand.

Each tourist attending the F1 race weekend is expected to contribute significantly to the local economy, encompassing accommodation, F1 ticket sales, dining, and entertainment.

The SIC boasts a seating capacity of 130,000 people, though the venue can accommodate over 170,000 visitors across its extended areas and hospitality zones.

From a pure cost-benefit lens, the biggest advantage for Malaysia as a host country for F1 would be the global TV exposure and tourist inflow, without bearing the multi-hundred-million-ringgit licence fee that once made F1 a hard sell to taxpayers.