Sepang 2026 · Living tracker
Will Formula 1 Return to Sepang? The Tracker
By Will Tygart · October 8, 2026
Last updated: Oct 8, 2026
Status as of October 8, 2026: talks have opened, nothing is decided. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali at Sepang on October 4 and said discussions on a permanent Malaysian Grand Prix have begun — but called it early-stage, with Cabinet review, the hosting cost, and a packed F1 calendar all standing between Sepang and a permanent slot. The circuit's own estimate: at least RM300 million a year (~US$73M) to host regularly.
The timeline
Every entry marked confirmed is on the public record; reported means credible press reporting not yet officially confirmed. This page updates as the story moves.
| Date | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2017 | Malaysia hosts the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang annually. | Confirmed |
| 2017 | Race dropped: rising hosting costs and diminishing returns. | Confirmed |
| Aug 2025 | Sports minister rules out a return; cites ~RM300M/year hosting cost. | Confirmed |
| Oct 2–4, 2026 | FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX IN MALAYSIA 2026 — one-off at Sepang after the Bahrain race is relocated; Bahrain covers the rights fee; Malaysia spends RM10–16M on circuit prep (Anwar, via NST). Record 261,000 across the weekend. | Confirmed |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Anwar attends Bahrain-hosted F1 dinner; meets Domenicali, FIA president Ben Sulayem, team figures. | Confirmed |
| Oct 4, 2026 | Anwar meets Domenicali at Sepang; tells Bernama talks on a permanent return have begun but it is 'too early'; says the matter will go to Cabinet. | Confirmed |
| Oct 2026 | SIC CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif: permanent slot needs at least RM300M/year, plus a calendar opening. | Confirmed |
| ~Mid-Oct 2026 | Final 2027 calendar choices expected — the window for any 2027 movement. | Reported |
The money
The number that ended the 1999–2017 run is the number blocking the return: SIC's estimate of at least RM300 million (~US$73M) a year for a permanent slot, rights fee plus local costs. For context on what a one-off costs when someone else pays: Bahrain's 2026 relocation fee was reported at roughly US$70–100M, while Malaysia's own circuit-prep spend was RM10–16M — Anwar's line was that Malaysia was 'effectively hosting it for free.' A permanent deal means Malaysia pays the full freight, every year, on a multi-year contract.
The Petronas angle
Petronas is already woven into this story three ways: title sponsor of the circuit itself (PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit), title partner of the Mercedes F1 team, and title sponsor of the upcoming MotoGP round. What Petronas has not done — publicly, as of October 8 — is commit funding toward an F1 hosting fee. Any claim that Petronas will underwrite the return is speculation until the company or the government says otherwise. Watch this space: a Petronas-backed bid changes the math completely.
The calendar math
Money isn't the only obstacle. The F1 calendar is crowded, existing host contracts must be respected, and several countries are already lobbying for races. Anwar himself flagged this: the effort 'will take time' because of the packed schedule and existing commitments. The realistic read: 2027 movement would need to surface around the mid-October calendar decisions; anything later points to 2028 at the earliest.
What would change this page
A Cabinet decision either way. A Petronas funding statement. A calendar slot opening with Sepang named. A Domenicali or F1 commercial statement beyond 'talks.' Until one of those lands, the honest status is: door open, nothing decided.
How this tracker works
Confirmed items cite the public record (Bernama, official statements). Reported items cite press reporting and are labeled as such. Corrected or superseded entries stay visible with a strikethrough and a correction note — the history matters as much as the headline.