In Malaysia, the cost of bringing back Formula 1 has been assessed.

      This year, Malaysia will return to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 2017 – the Sepang circuit will host the sixteenth round of the season, officially called the "Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia," and is fully funded by the promoters of the Bahrain event.

      The executive director of the racetrack, Azhan Shafrimaan Hanif, confirmed that this is a one-time return, and for Malaysia to host Formula 1 on a permanent basis, it needs to spend at least 73 million US dollars annually.

      Azhan Shafrimaan Hanif: "In my estimates, at least 300 million ringgits (73 million US dollars) will be required each year. That’s how much it will cost. But we also need to consider the return from hosting the race.

      According to the data I have seen, most host countries experience an economic impact that is at least three times greater than the investment. In other words, if we spend 300 million ringgits, the potential return for the country could reach 1 billion ringgits (244 million US dollars).

      However, the government's current priority is not spending on international events, but helping the population amid economic difficulties and rising living costs. Perhaps in the future, when we have data from the results of the 2026 race, they will serve as a starting point for decision-making.

      The second factor is the availability of free slots in the Formula 1 calendar. If there are none, then nothing will happen. Thus, there are two main conditions for a permanent return – funds to pay the promoter's fee and an available date in the calendar."