First included in the Formula One World Championship in 1999, the current Malaysian Grand Prix is held at the hyper-modern Sepang International Circuit at Sepang, Malaysia. FIA-sanctioned racing in Malaysia has existed since the 1960s.

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History

Preceding racing tournaments

The 1962-1965 seasons of the original Formula 2 Grand Prix held on the Thomson Road circuit in Singapore is regarded as an earlier precedence of the Malaysian Grand Prix, when Singapore was originally part of the Malaysian federation from 1963 to 1965. After Singapore seceded from the federation in 1965, the Grand Prix continued on until 1973.

Between Singapore's departure from the Malaysian federation and the opening of Sepang Circuit, Malaysia hosted a range of other racing tournaments at Shah Alam's own circuit between 1968 to 1995, including the Tasman Series (1968-1972), Formula Pacific (1973-1974, 1978-1982), Formula Atlantic (1975), Formula Two (1977) and Formula Holden (1995).

Formula One at the Sepang International Circuit

The nine World Championship Malaysian Grands Prix have seen a good deal of action on and off the track, whilst the weather—furnace heat one minute, tropical storm the next—adds extra spice. The most notable Grand Prix at Sepang to date was the inaugural event in 1999. It saw Michael Schumacher return to the sport after his absence due to a broken leg sustained at that year's British Grand Prix, dominating the race and handing the victory to title-hopeful team-mate Eddie Irvine, only for both Ferraris to be disqualified due to a technical irregularity, handing the title—until the steward's decision was over-ruled—to Mika Häkkinen.

The 2001 event was hit by a heavy rainstorm in the middle of the race which made conditions very difficult. Conditions were so bad that the two Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello spun off almost simultaneously at the same corner. Remarkably, they both recovered to score a Ferrari "1-2", because for a long time they were nearly 5 seconds faster than anyone else on the field. Elsewhere, the race was even led by Jos Verstappen, surprisingly. However, as the track begun to dry, he fell back to 7th, but his efforts to keep positions were memorable.

Since 2001, the Malaysian Grand Prix has moved from the end of the schedule to the beginning, which has seen some topsy-turvy results as teams and drivers get to grips with their new equipment, with many races heavily influenced by the winners and losers of the scramble for position into the tight double hairpin bend at the first corner.

On April 8, 2007, shortly before the 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Formula One president Bernie Ecclestone was quoted as stating that the circuit was getting "shabby" and "a bit tired" from the lack of care, describing it as "an old house that needs a bit of redecorating". He noted that the circuit itself is not the issue, but rather the surrounding environ; rubbish is said to be littered all over the place, potentially damaging the circuit's good reputation when it was opened in 1999. ^[1]

The day before, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had met Ecclestone to discuss an extension of the Formula One contract beyond 2010. While the government had been given an additional extension to host the Grand Prix until 2015, the government was still mulling the offer, as of April 23, 2007. ^[2] The circuit was given a renewed contract in 2006 to organise the Malaysian Grand Prix for another five years..

Night race

On February 13, 2008, the management of the Sepang International Circuit announced its aim to become Formula One's second night race from 2009 after Singapore, following discussions about buying a floodlighting system. Its plans seem to be moving forward when Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, the chairman of the circuit, revealed that they were in the process of securing a lighting system. He was quoted as saying, "They might be custom made for the circuit." ^[3] However, since then, the organizers have confirmed that they will not be making the race a night race, but will be adopting a late-afternoon start time. ^[4]. The 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix indeed did adopt a late afternoon start time. However this proved disastrous due to heavy rainfall and the race not being able to be restarted due to the low light level making it through the clouds. The race was abandoned.

Sponsors

Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix 1999-present

Winners of the Malaysian Grand Prix

Multiple winners (drivers)

A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Wins	Driver	Years
4	John MacDonald	1970, 1971, 1973, 1975
3	Michael Schumacher	2000, 2001, 2004
2	Albert Poon	1963, 1965
	Andrew Miedecke	1981, 1982
	Fernando Alonso	2005, 2007
	Kimi Räikkönen	2003, 2008

Multiple winners (constructors)

Embolded teams are still competing in the Formula One championship
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Wins	Constructor	Years Won
5	Ferrari	1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008
4	March	1972, 1977, 1978, 1979
	Ralt	1975, 1980, 1981, 1982
3	Brabham	1970, 1971, 1973
2	Lotus	1963, 1965
	Elfin	1968, 1969
	McLaren	2003, 2007
	Renault	2005, 2006

Year by year

A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship. The 1962 was held titled "Malayan Grand Prix"

Year	Driver	Constructor	Class	Location	Report
2009	Jenson Button	Brawn-Mercedes	Formula One	Sepang	Report
2008	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	Formula One	Sepang	Report
2007	Fernando Alonso	McLaren-Mercedes	Formula One	Sepang	Report
2006	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	Formula One	Sepang	Report
2005	Fernando Alonso	Renault	Formula One	Sepang	Report
2004	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Formula One	Sepang	Report
2003	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren-Mercedes	Formula One	Sepang	Report
2002	Ralf Schumacher	Williams-BMW	Formula One	Sepang	Report
2001	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Formula One	Sepang	Report
2000	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Formula One	Sepang	Report
1999	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	Formula One	Sepang	Report
1995	Paul Stokell	Reynard-Holden	Formula Holden	Shah Alam	Report
1982	Andrew Miedecke	Ralt-Ford	Formula Pacific	Shah Alam	Report
1981	Andrew Miedecke	Ralt-Ford	Formula Pacific	Shah Alam	Report
1980	Steve Millen	Ralt-Ford	Formula Pacific	Shah Alam	Report
1979	Kenny Smith	March-Ford	Formula Pacific	Shah Alam	Report
1978	Graeme Lawrence	March-Ford	Formula Pacific	Shah Alam	Report
1977	Patrick Tambay	March-BMW	Formula Two	Shah Alam	Report
1975	22px John MacDonald	Ralt-Ford	Formula Atlantic	Shah Alam	Report
1974			Formula Pacific	Shah Alam	Report
1973	22px John MacDonald	Brabham-Ford	Formula Pacific	Shah Alam	Report
1972	Sonny Rajah	March-Ford	Tasman	Shah Alam	Report
1971	22px John MacDonald	Brabham-Ford	Tasman	Shah Alam	Report
1970	22px John MacDonald	Brabham-Ford	Tasman	Shah Alam	Report
1969	Tony Maw	Elfin-Ford	Tasman	Shah Alam	Report
1968	Hengkie Iriawan	Elfin-Ford	Tasman	Shah Alam	Report
1967- 1966	Not held as Thomson Road circuit now was in an independent Singapore. Thomson Road now held the Singapore Grand Prix .
1965	22px Albert Poon	Lotus		Thomson Road	Report
1964	Cancelled after practice.
1963	22px Albert Poon	Lotus		Thomson Road	Report
1962	Yong Nam Kee	Jaguar		Thomson Road	Report

Support races

Formula BMW Asia and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia have supported the Malaysian Grand Prix since 2003.

References

1. F1 boss says Sepang getting 'shabby'
2. Malaysia mulling contract to extend Formula One race until 2015
3. "Malaysia closing on '09 race"
4. Malaysian GP rules out night racing