SHAH ALAM, July 27 — The staging of the Formula One (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) in October is expected to benefit Malaysia's economy, particularly through tourism, local businesses, and the national motorsport industry.
Sports analyst Datuk Pekan Ramli said the return of the prestigious race should be accompanied by strategic planning to ensure its benefits are sustained over the long term, including through improved return on investment (ROI) and the development of Malaysia's motorsport ecosystem.
The country's previous experience in hosting F1 could serve as a valuable reference in strengthening the event's management model, including expanding collaboration between the government and the corporate sector.
"We should learn from the past and remember that we need clear benchmarks for hosting this event. We must evaluate the ROI, the branding impact we achieve, and whether it justifies the operational costs involved.
"We should also make comparisons with MotoGP. Hopefully, we can establish a collaboration model between the government and the corporate sector so that hosting the event delivers maximum benefits to all parties," he told Media Selangor.
Ramli added that the SIC's experience as the host of F1 for nearly two decades gives Malaysia a significant advantage and reinforces confidence in its ability to stage another world-class event.
"Given the limited preparation time, we need to work hard. However, in terms of experience, I do not think we will face any major issues.
"The main challenge is corporate participation because we cannot rely solely on government funding," he said.
F1's return should also be viewed as an opportunity to revitalise Malaysia's motorsport industry, including technological development, local talent, and engineering expertise.
"Malaysia is an automotive manufacturing nation, yet previously we did not fully leverage F1 to advance automotive technology. We hope this time it will have that kind of impact.
"In terms of developing talent, including drivers and local mechanics, we hope the industry can regain its momentum. We previously had the Sauber Petronas team, but we have not seen that legacy continue," Ramli said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the nation is honoured by the confidence shown by the government of Bahrain and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in entrusting Malaysia with hosting the race at the SIC.
This development ensures that the Bahrain Grand Prix remains on the F1 calendar for 2026 after the race was cancelled earlier in the season because of geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Malaysia previously hosted F1 from 1999 to 2017 before the hosting agreement ended ahead of schedule due to the high cost of staging the event and declining ticket sales.
