The race at Sepang had been a permanent fixture on the F1 circus from 1999 through to 2017. It also hosted the final race of the season in 2000 and was a very popular track among both drivers and fans.  

It dropped off the calendar at the end of 2017 as the Malaysian government questioned the value of the race. Senior officials at SIC and the sport’s senior figures agreed not to negotiate a new deal. 

However, new CEO for the Sepang International Circuit, Azhan Shafriman Hanif, won’t rule out a future return of the sport to Malaysia. 

“It (Sepang International Circuit hosting a Formula 1 race again) is not on my top priority at the moment, but if the opportunity comes by and the offer is good, I’m very supportive of this idea because this event (F1) brings the branding part of Malaysia. 

“Let’s say if we agree to host the F1 race for a longer period, we will hold a discussion with the government since the hosting fee is not cheap and also the money that we spend must be worthy to the government and also the fans.’’