MALAYSIA has no immediate plans to revive the Formula 1 (F1) Grand Prix due to the substantial hosting and circuit maintenance costs, as well as a congested global race calendar, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh confirmed in Parliament today.
Hosting F1 would require the government to allocate around RM300 million annually to Liberty Media — the commercial rights holder for the championship — in addition to significant infrastructure spending. Yeoh stressed that while the Sepang International Circuit continues to hold its FIA Grade 1 licence, maintaining this standard costs the government RM10 million each year.
"Generally, Malaysia would be required to sign a three- to five-year contract with Liberty Media, involving a total commitment of approximately RM1.5 billion just for the hosting rights over that period,” Yeoh said in response to a question from Oscar Ling Chai Yew (PH-Sibu).
While the government remains open to a potential return of F1, this would depend on corporate sponsorship or private funding to shoulder the cost of hosting rights.
“Malaysia is not completely shutting the door on F1. If any corporate party is prepared to absorb the hosting fee, we are open to discussions,” she said.
Yeoh, who is also MP for Segambut, noted that the RM300 million annual fee could instead support a range of youth and sports development initiatives.
"That same amount can fund 20 sports development programmes annually, involving 363 podium athletes and 9,834 talent development athletes, at a total yearly cost of RM124.1 million. With RM300 million, the ministry could sustain these programmes for two full years — or even four, depending on scope."
She added that the RM10 million circuit upgrade cost could fully fund the national Road to Gold (RTG) programme for a year. “Additionally, the same amount equals the RM30 million in annual Sports Matching Grants (GPS) allocated for a decade,” Yeoh said.
The GPS initiative, she explained, is designed to stimulate economic activity in the sports sector by encouraging private-sector involvement in hosting national and international sporting events.
Malaysia hosted its first F1 Grand Prix in 1999, becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to do so. However, the country ceased hosting the race after 19 editions, with the final event taking place on 1 September 2017. August 21, 2025
