A state-of-the-art circuit, Sepang International Circuit was officially opened on March 9, 1999, after being completed in a record 14 months and with the recognition of its ultramodern facilities, it was given the honour to incorporate the Formula 1 logo in its name.
Sepang last hosted a Formula 1 event five years ago and may come back on the calendar, as hinted by circuit boss Azhan Shafriman Hanif, who also pointed out that the race has to prove itself worthwhile.
The first Malaysian Grand Prix was held in 1999, when it was the scene of Scuderia Ferrari German driver Michael Schumacher’s return to action after his big crash in the British Grand Prix. Since then, the Sepang International Circuit became popular among drivers and fans alike. This is because the track characteristics and layout provided many passing opportunities for drivers, while there was also a different element that added an element of unknown to the races: rainstorms.
More than a decade ago there were also talks about a possible switch to a night race format, but the idea was eventually scrapped. The 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix was held at sunset, but heavy rain forced race control to stop the race after only 33 laps, with drivers being awarded half points.
Despite the fact that Sepang and Formula 1 had a contract which was available also for the 2018 season, in 2017 organizers decided to terminate the deal, explaining that low attendance and increasing hosting fees made it impossible for them to continue hosting the event. However, MotoGP has continued to run at the Sepang International Circuit and will also return here in just a few weeks, after not being able to race in Malaysian during the last two championships as a result of the restrictions due to the pandemic.
In a recent interview for AFP, Azhan Shafriman Hanif, the Chief Executive Officer of Sepang International Circuit (SIC), has hinted at a possible return to the Formula 1 calendar, but at the same time confirmed the race has to be worthwhile, and not just from a financial point of view.
When asked to comment on the Malaysian Grand Prix possibly returning on the Formula 1 calendar anytime soon, he explained:
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“At this juncture, the answer is no, not for the time being. Perhaps in another two to three years when the economy has stabilised. We need to know what is the return in terms of the spill-over effect,” Azhan Shafriman Hanif said.
There were rumours that the Malaysian Grand Prix could have replaced the cancelled Russian Grand Prix: “We need to look at the rebranding, how do we monetise the platform. We need to talk about technology transfer, talent development and environmental sustainability. If Formula 1 were to come back to Malaysia, it has to be hinged on something else, not only on the race. There must be another purpose why we are doing F1.” – the Chief Executive Officer of Sepang International Circuit concluded.
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