Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsFormula 1

Race fee sticking point for Malaysian GP

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Malaysian Grand Prix organisers say a new contract has yet to be signed because it has yet to agree a race fee with Formula One Management (FOM).

This year’s race is the last of the current contract for the grand prix at Sepang, which has been on the Formula One calendar since 1999. While talks are ongoing, Sepang International Circuit chairman Tan Sri Mokhzani Tun Dr Mahathir says the main sticking point remains the cost of the race and who will contribute towards it.

"The talks are centred on an agreeable price for organising the prestigious race for the next three years,” Mokhzani told the Bernama news agency.

"We also have to take into consideration the current economic volatility ... For now we have not made any decision yet (on extending the contract). We have to ensure the negotiations proceed smoothly.”

However, Mokhzani appears confident a new deal will be agreed, saying the future of the Malaysian Grand Prix will be known by the time this year’s race on March 29.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.