Three sources familiar with the matter have stated that Malaysian state-owned oil company Petronas is looking to bring Formula 1 racing back to Malaysia in 2026 after a nine-year hiatus. Malaysia hosted a round of the Formula 1 World Championship at the Sepang International Circuit since 1999 but held its last race in 2017 due to declining ticket sales and rising costs to host the event.
Petronas won the naming rights for the Sepang Circuit for three years in October last year. The circuit continues to host MotoGP and other motorsport events. The sources, who declined to be named as they are not authorized to speak to the media, indicated that Petronas's plan to revive the Formula 1 race was revealed during an open meeting led by CEO Tan Sri Mohd Taufik Tan Sri Aziz on Tuesday.
The sources did not clarify the reasons for the return. Petronas, the Sepang Circuit, and the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Last year, Malaysian Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh stated that hosting a Formula 1 race was "too costly," adding, "If we could host a Formula 1 race, we would do it, but currently we cannot afford the costs of hosting races."
Formula 1 officials did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The sport's popularity has increased globally in recent years, with more countries competing to host races to boost tourism and stimulate their economies. Max Verstappen won the last edition of the Malaysia Grand Prix in 2017, while Lewis Hamilton secured the drivers' championship that year. Petronas has been the official sponsor of the Mercedes team since 2010, resulting in eight constructors' championships and seven drivers' championships. The team finished second in the constructors' standings last year, with Hamilton placing third and teammate George Russell eighth in the drivers' standings.
