Sepang Reminds Formula 1 What It Lost With the Malaysian Grand Prix

It was nothing short of a successful race weekend in Sepang.

Don't mind the software glitch that delayed the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. That's the FIA's fault anyway. 

F1 finally returned to the Sepang International Circuit after nine long years, delivering an exciting race that had motorsport fans on their feet. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who won the 2017 race here before F1 called quits, emerged victorious to secure his first win of 2026.

The spectacle in Malaysia reminded the grid what it lost in those nine years: quickly evolving weather conditions that keep race strategists guessing, a flowing track layout that gives drivers plenty of opportunities to overtake, and the crowd energy that drivers love.

If you're not convinced that Malaysians love their racing, watch the podium celebration again. When the production team encountered technical issues in playing the Dutch national anthem for Verstappen, the crowd obliged to fill the silence. They happily chanted the ever famous "dudududu Max Verstappen" song, which left the four-time World Champion smiling and almost blushing.

Now, reports say that Malaysia is eyeing a permanent return to the F1 calendar. The drivers, teams, and the fans would love it. But is it feasible enough for the FIA to consider?

When the Malaysian Grand Prix was cancelled in 2017, local promoters cited dwindling ticket sales and viewership as one of the reasons. Interestingly, the organizers didn't have that problem in 2026.

Instead, crowd management and transport became a big problem for them last weekend. That was particularly obvious after Friday's practice sessions, when hundreds of fans were left stranded around the circuit because shuttle buses were caught in heavy traffic. 

It was also reported that taxis and ride-hailing vehicles were not allowed to enter the venue. Therefore, some fans had to walk along roads and highways to reach alternative transport.

This transport problem can't happen anymore. It was only this year that Sepang was picked as a replacement track to host the Bahrain GP. Long-term planning could help organizers avoid this issue, which is why Malaysia has a realistic potential to permanently return to F1.

If the FIA strongly considers the sentiment of the drivers and teams, then Sepang has an excellent chance. Drivers love to race around here, especially with the kind of flowing layout where one corner feeds into the next. 

And when drivers like racing on a certain track, you know what comes next. A whole lot of overtaking and proper wheel-to-wheel battle. Spectators love watching these battles, giving more reasons for the FIA to consider returning to Malaysia permanently.

Formula 1 should and will return to the Sepang International Circuit. The invitation is just too difficult to ignore for the sport. After the race, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the "entire country is rejoicing." 

If the organizers present a solid plan to address their crowd management issues from last weekend, look for the FIA to bring the grid back to Sepang sooner rather than later.