Malaysia eyes permanent F1 return to Sepang, but it will \u2018take time\u2019:\nAnwar<\/p>\n
\u201cHave a business plan covering a minimum of five years, and we will\nsupport it,\u201d said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of Formula 1\u2019s\ngoverning body, the FIA.<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is in talks with Formula One over bringing the\nMalaysian Grand Prix back as a permanent fixture on the race calendar,\nsaid Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday (Oct 4), amid calls from\nfans and commentators for its return following the weekend\u2019s race at\nSepang.<\/p>\n
He cautioned, however, that efforts regarding the matter would \u201ctake\ntime\u201d, given Formula One\u2019s crowded calendar and existing contractual\ncommitments to other host countries.<\/p>\n
Anwar said that he discussed the possibility with Formula One chief\nexecutive officer Stefano Domenicali on the sidelines of the Gulf Air\nBahrain Grand Prix, which was relocated to the Sepang International\nCircuit in Malaysia as a one-off event over the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe discussed the prospect of reinstating the Malaysian Grand Prix as\na permanent fixture on the Formula One calendar, thereby fulfilling the\nlong-standing wishes of fans who have been eagerly awaiting its return\nto Sepang,\u201d Anwar said in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, this effort requires time as the race calendar preparation\nneeds to take into account the tight schedule and the existing contract\ncommitments with the host country,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Malaysia hosted the Formula One event after the original Bahrain race\ncould not go ahead in April due to the Iran war and the situation in the\nMiddle East.<\/p>\n
Sepang previously hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017\nbefore the country dropped the race because of rising costs and\nlicensing fees.<\/p>\n
Anwar said the Cabinet would discuss a possible return and consider\nMalaysia\u2019s capability to host the race as well as the potential benefits\nto the economy and the public.<\/p>\n
The proposal remains at an early stage, Anwar added.<\/p>\n
A Sepang International Circuit official previously estimated that\nsecuring a permanent spot on the Formula One calendar would cost\nMalaysia RM300 million (US$73.3 million) a year, local media\nreported.<\/p>\n
The cost of the weekend\u2019s race was borne by Bahrain, while Malaysia\nspent between RM10 million and RM16 million on preparations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Formula\nOne\u2019s governing body, said that Malaysia would need a minimum five-year\nbusiness plan covering the commercial, promotional and logistical\nrequirements of hosting the race if it wants it to make a permanent\nreturn.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe investment and the track are both great. You can see that a lot\nof things have improved \u2026 Malaysia deserves it. We have a very good\nrelationship, and (the) Formula One Management is very open to this,\u201d\nFIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told a media roundtable on Sunday, as\nquoted by Bernama.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave a business plan covering a minimum of five years, and we will\nsupport it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sulayem added that Malaysia would first have to determine whether\nhosting the race was in the country\u2019s interests and aligned with its\neconomic and tourism policies.<\/p>\n
Malaysia saw a record turnout at Sepang over the weekend, although\nthe event was marred by complaints over transport and crowd\nmanagement.<\/p>\n
Motor racing fans complained of long shuttle bus queues and poor\ncrowd control, prompting some to walk several kilometres out of the area\nalong main roads and motorways.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Saturday, the Sepang International Circuit\nacknowledged the fans\u2019 complaints, adding that it was working with its\ntransport partners and relevant authorities to strengthen traffic,\nshuttle bus arrangements and crowd management.<\/p>\n
Red Bull\u2019s Max Verstappen won Sunday\u2019s race while Kimi Antonelli of\nMercedes finished second. Ferrari\u2019s Lewis Hamilton came from 18th place\nto finish third.<\/p>\n
More than 261,000 spectators attended the race, setting a new record\nfor the Sepang International Circuit and surpassing the previous 126,690\nspectators recorded for the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix, Bernama\nreported.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-eyes-permanent-f1-return-to-sepang-but-it-will-take-time-anwar-1791183048", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }