KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is in talks with Formula One over bringing the Malaysian Grand Prix back as a permanent fixture on the race calendar, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday (Oct 4), amid calls from fans and commentators for its return following the weekend’s race at Sepang.

He cautioned, however, that efforts regarding the matter would "take time", given Formula One's crowded calendar and existing contractual commitments to other host countries.

Anwar said that he discussed the possibility with Formula One chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali on the sidelines of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, which was relocated to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia as a one-off event over the weekend.

“We discussed the prospect of reinstating the Malaysian Grand Prix as a permanent fixture on the Formula One calendar, thereby fulfilling the long-standing wishes of fans who have been eagerly awaiting its return to Sepang,” Anwar said in a Facebook post.

"However, this effort requires time as the race calendar preparation needs to take into account the tight schedule and the existing contract commitments with the host country," he added.

Malaysia hosted the Formula One event after the original Bahrain race could not go ahead in April due to the Iran war and the situation in the Middle East.

Sepang previously hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017 before the country dropped the race because of rising costs and licensing fees.

Anwar said the Cabinet would discuss a possible return and consider Malaysia's capability to host the race as well as the potential benefits to the economy and the public. The proposal remains at an early stage, Anwar added.

A Sepang International Circuit official previously estimated that securing a permanent spot on the Formula One calendar would cost Malaysia RM300 million (US$73.3 million) a year, local media reported.

The cost of the weekend's race was borne by Bahrain, while Malaysia spent between RM10 million and RM16 million on preparations.

Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit. Malaysia hosted the Formula One event after the original Bahrain race could not go ahead in April due to the Iran war and the situation in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Formula One’s governing body, said that Malaysia would need a minimum five-year business plan covering the commercial, promotional and logistical requirements of hosting the race if it wants it to make a permanent return.

"The investment and the track are both great. You can see that a lot of things have improved … Malaysia deserves it. We have a very good relationship, and (the) Formula One Management is very open to this,” FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told a media roundtable on Sunday, as quoted by Bernama. "Have a business plan covering a minimum of five years, and we will support it," he said.

Sulayem added that Malaysia would first have to determine whether hosting the race was in the country's interests and aligned with its economic and tourism policies.

A total of 261,000 spectators attended the race weekend, setting a new record for the Sepang International Circuit and surpassing the previous 126,690 spectators recorded for the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Malaysia saw a record turnout at Sepang over the weekend, although the event was marred by complaints over transport and crowd management.

Motor racing fans complained of long shuttle bus queues and poor crowd control prompting some to walk several kilometres out of the area along main roads and motorways.

In a statement on Saturday, the Sepang International Circuit acknowledged the fans' complaints, adding that it was working with its transport partners and relevant authorities to strengthen traffic, shuttle bus arrangements and crowd management.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won Sunday’s race while Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes finished second. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton came from 18th place to finish third.