The Malaysian Grand Prix (, officially the Malaysia Grand Prix from 1963–1965 and 2011–2017 and Malayan Grand Prix in 1962) was an annual auto race held in Malaysia. It was part of the Formula One World Championship from 1999 to 2017 and it was held during these years at the Sepang International Circuit. The Malaysian Grand Prix was held annually from 1962 to 1964 in Singapore, whilst it was a member of the Malaysian federation. Subsequent Grands Prix were held in Peninsular Malaysia.
Singapore and Shah Alam From 1962 to 1965 an annual race weekend for motorcycles and Formula Libre cars was held at the Thomson Road circuit in Singapore, named the Malaysia Grand Prix. After Singapore gained independence from Malaysia in 1965 the event was renamed the Singapore Grand Prix and continued until 1973. Between Singapore's departure from the Malaysian federation and the opening of Sepang Circuit, Malaysia hosted a range of other racing categories in the Malaysian Grand Prix at Shah Alam's own circuit between 1968 and 1995 including Formula Libre (1968), Tasman Formula, (1969-1972), Formula Atlantic (1973–1975), Formula Two (1977) Formula Pacific (1978–1982) and Formula Brabham (1995). Sepang International Circuit As part of a series of major infrastructure projects in the 1990s under Mahathir Mohamad's government, the Sepang International Circuit was constructed between 1997 and 1999 close to Putrajaya, the then-newly founded administrative capital of the country, with the intent of hosting the Malaysian Grand Prix. Similar to other of the country's circuits, the circuit is known for its unpredictable humid tropical weather, varying from clear furnace hot days to tropical rain storms. The inaugural Grand Prix at Sepang was held in , and saw Michael Schumacher return to the sport after his absence due to a broken leg sustained at that year's British Grand Prix. Ferrari dominated the race, with Schumacher handing the victory to title-hopeful teammate Eddie Irvine, only for both Ferraris to be disqualified due to a technical irregularity, before later being reinstated. From 2001, the Malaysian Grand Prix moved from the end of the season to the beginning, which has seen some topsy-turvy results as teams and drivers got 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. 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 seventh, but his efforts to keep positions were memorable. On 8 April 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 environment; rubbish is said to be littered all over the place, potentially damaging the circuit's good reputation when it was opened in 1999. 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 23 April 2007. The circuit was given a renewed contract in 2006 to organise the Malaysian Grand Prix for another five years. On 13 February 2008, the management of the Sepang International Circuit announced its aim to become Formula One's second night race from after Singapore, following discussions about buying a floodlighting system. Mokhzani Mahathir, the chairman of the circuit, was quoted as saying that the lights "might be custom made for the circuit." However, the organisers ended up settling for a late-afternoon start time. The 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix was held around sunset, starting at 17:00 local time (09:00 UTC). This proved disastrous due to heavy rainfall. The race was red-flagged and ultimately not restarted due to the low light level making it through the clouds. The race ended on lap 33, and with the regulations requiring 42 laps for full points, both driver and constructor results were halved in relation to points. On 7 April 2017, it was announced that the 2017 race would be the swansong of the Malaysian Grand Prix. The race's contract was due to expire in 2018, but its future had been under threat due to rising hosting fees and declining ticket sales. Malaysia's youth and sports minister at the time Khairy Jamaluddin said on Twitter: "I think we should stop hosting the F1. At least for a while. Cost too high, returns limited. When we first hosted the F1 it was a big deal. First in Asia outside Japan. Now so many venues. No first mover advantage. Not a novelty." The BBC reported that "Malaysia had struggled in recent years to attract a significant crowd, its appeal having been damaged by the more glamorous night-time event on a street track in Singapore."
Repeat winners (drivers) A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship. Drivers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season. Wins Driver Years won 4 John MacDonald 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975 Sebastian Vettel 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 3 Michael Schumacher 2000, 2001, 2004 Fernando Alonso 2005, 2007, 2012 2 Albert Poon 1963, 1965 Andrew Miedecke 1981, 1982 Kimi Räikkönen 2003, 2008 Source: Repeat winners (constructors) A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship. Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season. Wins Constructor Years won 7 Ferrari 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2015 5 Red Bull 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017 4 March 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979 Ralt 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982 3 Brabham 1970, 1971, 1973 2 Lotus 1963, 1965 Elfin 1968, 1969 Renault 2005, 2006 McLaren 2003, 2007 Source: Repeat winners (engine manufacturers) A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship. Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season. Wins Constructor Years won 15 Ford * 1963, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 7 Ferrari 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2015 5 Renault 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013 4 Mercedes ** 2003, 2007, 2009, 2014 2 BMW 1977, 2002 TAG Heuer *** 2016, 2017 Source: Built by Cosworth Built by Ilmor in 2003 Built by Renault By year A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship. Year Driver Car Class Location Report 1962 Yong Nam Kee Jaguar E-Type Thomson Road Report 1963 Albert Poon Lotus 23 Report 1964 Rained out after 7 laps with no winner declared. 1965 Albert Poon Lotus 23 Thomson Road Report 1966–1967 Not held as Thomson Road circuit was now in an independent Singapore.Thomson Road circuit held the Singapore Grand Prix until 1973. 1968 Hengkie Irawan Elfin 600-Ford Formula Libre Shah Alam Report 1969 Tony Maw Elfin 600-Ford Tasman Formula Report 1970 John MacDonald Brabham-Ford Tasman Formula Report 1971 John MacDonald Brabham-Ford Tasman Formula Report 1972 Harvey Simon Elfin-Ford Tasman Formula Report 1973 Sonny Rajah March-Ford Formula Atlantic Report 1974 John MacDonald Ralt-Ford Formula Atlantic Report 1975 John MacDonald Ralt-Ford Formula Atlantic Report 1976 Not held 1977 '''' Patrick Tambay March-BMW Formula Two Shah Alam Report 1978 Graeme Lawrence March-Ford Formula Pacific Report 1979 Ken Smith March-Ford Formula Pacific Report 1980 Steve Millen Ralt-Ford Formula Pacific Report 1981 Andrew Miedecke Ralt-Ford Formula Pacific Report 1982 Andrew Miedecke Ralt-Ford Formula Pacific Report 1983–1994 Not held 1995 Paul Stokell Reynard-Holden Formula Brabham Shah Alam Report 1996–1998Not held'' Eddie Irvine Ferrari Formula One Sepang Report Michael Schumacher Ferrari Formula One Report Michael Schumacher Ferrari Formula One Report Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW Formula One Report Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes Formula One Report Michael Schumacher Ferrari Formula One Report Fernando Alonso Renault Formula One Report Giancarlo Fisichella Renault Formula One Report Fernando Alonso McLaren-Mercedes Formula One Report Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari Formula One Report Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes Formula One Report Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Formula One Report Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Formula One Report Fernando Alonso Ferrari Formula One Report Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Formula One Report Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Formula One Report Sebastian Vettel Ferrari Formula One Report Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer Formula One Report Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer Formula One Report Source: