P1racenews AI automatic summary:
High costs mean Malaysia will not be back on the F1 calendar any time soon.
Malaysia’s sports minister has stated that the country currently has no plans to bring back its Formula 1 race, despite previous discussions about the idea.
The chief executive of the Sepang International Circuit had mentioned that dropping the F1 race was a mistake and highlighted the growth the series experienced.
The high cost of hosting the event, with a quoted $70 million hosting fee, is a significant deterrent to reviving the race in Malaysia.
While there is a mutual desire to bring back the F1 race among stakeholders, the Youth and Sports Minister has emphasized the financial barriers and stiff competition from neighboring countries like Singapore and Thailand.
The minister stressed that the estimated hosting fees for F1 could be better used for sports development programs benefiting the country’s athletes.
Although F1 may return in the future if financially viable, the current focus is on securing an extension for the annual MotoGP round at the Sepang International Circuit.
