FORMULA One (F1) is set to make a comeback in Malaysia within two years’ time, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We intend to bring back the Grand Prix, but I don’t know if it’s next year or the year after.

“But the interest in Grand Prix is still very big and we want to bring back the race here, because it has stimulated many Malaysians to go into the automotive industry,” Dr Mahathir was reported as saying at the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce luncheon today.

Malaysians have become “addicted” to motor vehicles and buy all kinds of new motor vehicles, he said.

He also said that the Sepang racing circuit was still busy with racing events despite not hosting the international race.

“Lots of people come, race there, (they) have motorcycle races there. And a lot of people buy expensive cars, especially in Singapore.

“In Singapore, they don’t have the chance to drive there. When they come to Malaysia, they find that breaking the speed limit here is okay,” he said, reported The Star.

The prime minister, who was pivotal in bringing in F1 into Malaysia in 1999, said Malaysia would benefit by bringing back the race.

“We will be able to get spectators, more than 100,000 people and that will be worthwhile for us.

“Besides, when we have the Grand Prix, the television stations will broadcast this all over the world, bringing about 200 million viewers,” he said.

The previous Barisan Nasional government announced that Malaysia would stop hosting F1 races in 2017 after the government decided to terminate the hosting contract.

Then prime minister Najib Razak then said the decision was made due to a significant decline of returns since Malaysia first started hosting the event in 1999. – April 18, 2019.