Mercedes welcomes a potential F1 return to Sepang, while Signify says lighting technology can support Malaysia’s plans for a possible night race
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s return to the Formula One (F1) spotlight has renewed interest in the Sepang International Circuit, with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team keen to race there again and global lighting technology company Signify ready to provide solutions for a potential night race.
Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord said Malaysia felt somewhat like a home race for the team, recalling the enthusiastic reception from thousands of fans during a promotional event at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the recent Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) in Sepang.
He added that the team would welcome another opportunity to race at Sepang despite a disappointing result at the Bahrain GP.
“Yeah, 100 per cent. I know the result wasn’t great in Sepang, but we had an amazing weekend,” he told a media briefing hosted by Mercedes and its lighting technology partner Signify during the recent Singapore GP.
Lord was responding to a question on the prospect of Malaysia returning to the F1 calendar on a permanent basis.
Malaysia hosted the Bahrain GP from Oct 2 to 4, 2026, after the race was relocated from the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir amid the conflict in the Middle East. The race had originally been scheduled for April.
Recalling the team’s appearance at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the race, Lord said thousands of fans had gathered to welcome Mercedes.
“There were thousands and thousands of people. I was talking to colleagues at Petronas. They were like, you guys locked down the city. For us, it feels a little bit like a home race in Malaysia. We’d love to go back. We might ask them to resurface the circuit as well. It would be brilliant to go back,” he said.
Separately, Signify chief executive officer As Tempelman said technological capability would not be an obstacle should Malaysia decide to organise an F1 night race at Sepang.
“Well, I dare to say that technology will not be a constraint. So we can fix that, right? And we can, of course, if there were a night race in Malaysia, I’m sure we can find solutions. I have no doubt about it whatsoever,” he told Bernama.
However, Tempelman stressed that any such undertaking would first depend on the intentions of race organisers and the relevant authorities.
“The question, it all starts with, you know, what the organiser is and the authorities want from the event. And I think that is the first step that needs to be taken if Malaysia actually wants a night race. But if we were to come at that point, we will make sure we engineer the right solution,” he said.
DZ Engineering general manager Roberto Grilli, meanwhile, expressed interest in submitting a proposal involving Signify’s lighting technology should Sepang decide to host a night race.
He said the company valued its long-standing partnership with Signify, citing the quality of its lighting products as a key reason for continuing the collaboration.
DZ Engineering has worked with Signify on motorsport lighting since the inaugural Singapore F1 night race in 2008, with their collaboration extending to the Las Vegas GP and Formula E races in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, and London.
At Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit, the introduction of Philips ArenaVision LED floodlights in 2023 reduced lighting power consumption by 30 per cent compared with the previous metal-halide system.
Meanwhile, F1 is reportedly considering competing bids from several Asian countries for a place on its calendar, with Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea among those interested.
Asia is also set to host nine F1 races in 2027, compared with Europe’s eight, following the return of the Turkish GP, marking the first time the region would overtake Europe in the number of races.
On the prospect of Thailand joining the F1 calendar, Lord welcomed the possibility, although he acknowledged the significant commitment and investment required to stage a race.
“I think it would be a wonderful addition to the calendar. There is no doubt about that. We’d be very excited to go if that comes onto the calendar in the years ahead. Absolutely,” he said.
Lord also expressed support for F1’s return to India, describing its previous venue as an excellent circuit and facility.
India is working to address tax and regulatory hurdles to facilitate F1’s return to the Buddh International Circuit near New Delhi in 2028, more than a decade after the Indian Grand Prix was discontinued following its third edition in 2013 due to taxation and regulatory disputes.
“It feels like a round in India would be a very natural and logical part of the sport,” he said.
He noted, however, that complexities surrounding major sporting events would need to be addressed, while decisions on hosting agreements rested with Formula One’s management.