Malaysia capable and experienced enough to host F1 again if govt gives green light, says Mokhzani

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has the capability and experience to host Formula 1 again, according to Motorsports Associations of Malaysia president Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir.

Hosting Formula 1 in Malaysia depends on government support and economic impact assessment, with potential financial benefits for Kuala Lumpur and wider regions.

The response to this year's race indicates strong interest in Formula 1, with 105,000 tickets reportedly sold after its absence since 2017.

SEPANG, Oct 4 — Motorsports Associations of Malaysia (MAM) president Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir believes Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has the capability and experience to host F1 again should Malaysia have the opportunity to do so in the future.

Mokhzani said SIC’s experience in organising F1 remained intact, allowing the circuit’s management to ensure the event runs smoothly.

However, he said any decision to bring F1 back on a permanent basis would ultimately depend on the government, with the economic impact of hosting the race needing to be assessed.

“In terms of the circuit’s capability, we can do it. As for the financial capability and so on, I am sure that if we look at the economic impact and multiplier effect, it would be significant.”

“Everyone can benefit, to some extent, from what F1 actually brings to Malaysia,” he said on the sidelines of the Formula 1 (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026 at SIC here today.

Mokhzani said the economic benefits were not confined to the circuit as visitors would also stay in Kuala Lumpur and travel to other destinations.

While MAM would always want F1 to continue in Malaysia, he said the financial resources required to stage the event meant government support might be necessary.

Asked what contract formula would be suitable for Malaysia to host F1 again, Mokhzani said a five-year ‘3+2’ contract would be the ideal arrangement, providing greater certainty for organisers, fans and the Formula 1 management.

“It is usually a five-year contract. With a 3+2 arrangement, we want spectators who plan to come to be able to make arrangements. In the first year, those who have never been to Malaysia can see what the country has to offer.

“Then, in the second year, they can plan where to stay and where to go before and after the F1 race. This would also make it easier for the F1 management to schedule our race,” he said.

Mokhzani said the overwhelming response to this year’s race also demonstrated strong appetite for F1 among Malaysian fans, with 105,000 tickets reportedly sold.

Asked whether he was surprised by the turnout, he attributed the response to fans making up for the absence of F1 from Malaysia since 2017.

“I was told that 105,000 tickets had been sold and I was surprised to see people turning up even for practice on Friday. Yesterday’s qualifying session was also packed and today, we expect even more people,” he said.

In July, Formula 1 confirmed Malaysia as the host of the Gulf Air Bahrain GP from Oct 2 to 4, following an agreement between Formula 1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain.

The agreement kept the Bahrain GP on the 2026 F1 calendar after the race was cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Malaysia hosted the Malaysian GP at SIC from 1999 to 2017 before the race was dropped from the F1 calendar. — Bernama

Asian Games chaos puts Japan’s future Olympic ambitions under fresh scrutiny as experts warn trust damaged

Antonelli admits P2 was ‘the maximum’ as Verstappen proves too quick for Mercedes at Bahrain GP in Malaysia

‘No power!’ Verstappen reveals chaotic start before storming to victory at Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Suhakam doesn’t need prosecutorial powers — but govt must answer its findings, says chairman

Sabah gives more than 500 adults second chance to learn reading, writing, counting

Anwar: F1 excitement at Sepang also brings opportunities for local traders

马来西亚赛车协会主席丹斯里莫克扎尼·马哈蒂尔表示，雪邦国际赛道（SIC）有能力和经验再次举办一级方程式赛车。

在马来西亚举办一级方程式赛车取决于政府的支持和经济影响评估，可能为吉隆坡及周边地区带来经济效益。

今年的比赛反响表明人们对一级方程式赛车有着浓厚的兴趣，据报道，自 2017 年以来，一级方程式赛车已经售出了 105,000 张门票。

雪邦，10 月 4 日讯——马来西亚赛车协会 (MAM) 主席丹斯里莫克扎尼·马哈蒂尔认为，如果马来西亚未来有机会再次举办 F1 赛事，雪邦国际赛道 (SIC) 有能力和经验胜任。

莫克扎尼表示，雪城国际赛道在组织F1赛事方面的经验依然丰富，这使得赛道管理层能够确保赛事顺利进行。

但他表示，是否永久恢复F1赛事最终将取决于政府，需要评估举办比赛的经济影响。

“就电路本身的性能而言，我们完全可以做到。至于资金能力等方面，我相信，如果我们考虑经济影响和乘数效应，那将是巨大的。”

“F1 给马来西亚带来的种种好处，每个人都能在某种程度上受益，”他今天在雪兰莪国际赛道举行的 2026 年马来西亚海湾航空巴林一级方程式大奖赛间隙说道。

莫克扎尼表示，经济效益不仅限于该旅游线路，因为游客还会留在吉隆坡并前往其他目的地。

尽管马来西亚体育经理人（MAM）一直希望F1继续在马来西亚举办，但他表示，举办这项赛事所需的财政资源意味着可能需要政府的支持。

当被问及什么样的合同方案适合马来西亚再次举办F1赛事时，莫克扎尼表示，五年“3+2”合同将是理想的安排，可以为组织者、车迷和F1管理层提供更大的确定性。

“通常情况下，合同期限为五年。我们采用3+2的安排，希望计划前来的观众能够提前做好安排。第一年，那些从未去过马来西亚的人可以了解这个国家所能提供的服务。”

“这样一来，到了第二年，他们就可以计划F1比赛前后在哪里住宿和游览。这也有助于F1管理层安排我们的比赛日程，”他说道。

莫克扎尼表示，今年比赛的热烈反响也表明马来西亚车迷对F1的浓厚兴趣，据报道售出了10.5万张门票。

当被问及是否对到场人数感到惊讶时，他表示，这是因为车迷们为了弥补自 2017 年以来 F1 赛事在马来西亚的缺席而做出的回应。

“我听说已经售出了10.5万张门票，周五的练习赛也吸引了很多人到场，这让我很惊讶。昨天的排位赛也座无虚席，我们预计今天会有更多人到场，”他说。

7 月，一级方程式赛车确认马来西亚将作为 10 月 2 日至 4 日海湾航空巴林大奖赛的举办地，此前一级方程式赛车、国际汽车联合会 (FIA) 以及马来西亚和巴林政府达成了协议。

由于西亚地缘政治紧张局势，本赛季早些时候巴林大奖赛被取消，而根据协议，巴林大奖赛得以继续留在 2026 年 F1 赛历上。

马来西亚曾于1999年至2017年在雪兰莪国际赛道（SIC）举办马来西亚大奖赛，之后该赛事被从F1赛历中移除。——马新社

亚运会的混乱局面使日本未来的奥运雄心受到新的审视，专家警告称信任已受损。

安东内利承认第二名已经是“极限”，维斯塔潘在马来西亚巴林大奖赛上证明自己速度太快，梅赛德斯车队难以招架。

“没动力！”维斯塔潘透露在马来西亚巴林大奖赛上混乱的起步后强势夺冠

人权委员会主席表示，人权委员会不需要起诉权，但政府必须对其调查结果作出回应。

沙巴州为500多名成年人提供了第二次学习阅读、写作和计数的机会。

安华：雪邦F1赛事的精彩也为当地商家带来了商机