Say you own a nice concert venue, and a band wants to hold a gig there. Of course, the band determines the price of the tickets, right? Well, that is precisely the case with the “Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia” (we still can’t get over the name), because the gulf state will be setting ticket prices for the race on 4 October 2026, even though it will be held at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
Nonetheless, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hinted that the Malaysian government are working towards making available a number of affordable “Madani” tickets.
Furthermore, reports have also quoted SIC CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif that the venue is currently negotiating with the Bahrain government for more affordable tickets that will be made available to Malaysians.
“All the ticket sales revenue will go back to Bahrain, so we don’t have the absolute power to determine certain things. I will try my best to negotiate for a special price, maybe a MyKad price for Malaysians, but the final decision is with Bahrain because they are paying the rights fee,” said Azhan at a media session in SIC.
Bahrain will be paying the massive hosting rights fee, estimated to be approximately USD80 million (~about RM327 million). However, SIC will be sharing the operational costs with the gulf state and that includes track preparation as well as organising the event itself.
“We are looking at a ballpark figure of about RM40 million to be shared between SIC and Bahrain,” added Azhan on the operational costs.
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Regarding the circuit’s readiness to host the race, Azhan explained that Formula 1 officials have inspected the circuit and found no major issues that would prevent the race moving forward. He did add that several areas will undergo improvements, such as the run-off areas and infrastructure.
One of the primary reasons Malaysia decided to stop hosting a Formula 1 race was due to the massive cost, especially the hosting rights fee. Now though, with Bahrain covering that tab, Malaysia stands to gain significant economic benefits without the massive outlay.
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“In the past, we had to work hard to sell tickets. Today, Formula 1 has built a huge global fan base and created a fear of missing out. Since the announcement, we’ve received enquiries on sponsorships, festivals and commercial activities. It’s a good problem to have,” enthused Azhan.
With barely over two months before Formula 1 commentator David Croft exclaims his signature phrase “It’s lights out and away we go” for the Sepang race, fans can look forward to details on tickets very soon, and hopefully some affordable ones under the Madani banner.
The “Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia” will be held over the 2-4 October 2026 weekend at SIC.
