The Malaysian Grand Prix could be back on the Formula 1 calendar if Liberty can make the racing exciting again.
Between the drastic regulation change in 2014 and the competition from Singapore, attendance of the Malaysian GP has fallen in recent years. The government pulled funding from the race, and organisers terminated the deal to host the race a year early.
But the race promoter is open to holding the race again in the future, if F1’s new owners can bring back excitement and interest.
“If it ticks all the boxes, we will take it back,” Sepang International Circuit chief executive Dato’ Razlan Razali told Autosport.
“We want to see how exciting F1 is again.
“The new owners need to take back control of F1 and the racing.
“Bernie [Ecclestone] lost a bit of control with the FIA.
“The drastic regulation change for 2014, with the new V6 engines, was the beginning of the downward spiral of F1.
“Racing has become less exciting and that has had an impact on interest, both in terms of TV viewers and those coming to the track.
“They need to bring the excitement back, they need to sort it out. Let’s see what the new management comes up with.”
The state of F1 isn’t the only thing behind the decline in attendance at Sepang. Razali believes the introduction of the Singapore GP in 2008 has also hurt the Malaysian race.
Even if F1 were to become more exciting, Malaysia would have to compete against Singapore, which has a lot more of track entertainment.
“Having two F1 [races] in south-east Asia is killing the sport,” Razali said. “It would be much better if we could alternate.
“I believe Singapore offered us an option to alternate before they joined the calendar.
“It was before I took this job and apparently we refused.
“Would I consider it if it was an option again? Yes I would.”
Razali is also exploring the idea of offering Sepang as a testing track, if there is enough interest.
Comments.
Loading comments…