00:00Full throttle, Malaysia's F1 gamble. A record 261,000 people.
00:06That's how many spectators packed sepang for Formula One's return to Malaysia earlier this month.
00:12Max Verstappen won the rain-hit Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
00:16Yes, the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
00:19Malaysia is now eyeing a permanent return of F1.
00:23Prime Minister Dato Sri Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia has opened discussions with F1 about bringing the Malaysian Grand Prix back
00:30permanently.
00:31And that means Malaysia has a big question to answer.
00:35Is F1 worth the money?
00:37A permanent return could cost around RM300 million a year.
00:41That's an expensive pit stop.
00:43And exactly why Malaysia walked away from F1 in 2017.
00:48So why reconsider it now?
00:49This year's crowd was more than double the previous sepang record set in 2008.
00:55And the economic impact could be significant.
00:59Hong Leung Investment Bank was reported saying that the risk could have generated between RM1.1 and RM1.3 billion
01:06in total economic output.
01:08But that's where the challenges begin.
01:11RM300 million a year is a serious commitment.
01:14Even before factoring in infrastructure, security and other public costs.
01:18And Malaysia would also need to commit a minimum 5-year business plan and convince organisers that sepang deserves one
01:25of the coveted race slots.
01:27A packed circuit alone won't justify a permanent return.
01:31Malaysia needs tourist spending on hotels, restaurants, transport, shopping and other services.
01:38This year's race also brought traffic jams, long queues and transport headaches.
01:43But there is another factor.
01:45The fans.
01:45The F1 comeback won't just be about what happened on track.
01:50But the drivers themselves embraced Malaysia.
01:53Lewis Hamilton was spotted pumping petrol in Kuala Lumpur.
01:57While Kimi Antonelli explored KLCC and even took part on the rides at Splashmania Waterpark.
02:02And the F1 teams joined in too, showcasing landmarks like the Petronas Twin Towers and Batu Caves to global audiences.
02:10That matters because F1 is no longer just a 2-hour race.
02:14It's an entertainment and tourism platform and Malaysia got a chance to showcase itself to global audiences.
02:20So should F1 return to Malaysia, the answer may not be as simple as yes or no.
02:27Because this weekend wasn't just a comeback.
02:29It was a test.
02:31And now Malaysia has to decide whether to turn that test drive into a permanent deal.
02:36We're out方 눈目.
02:40We're out方 to get a chance to catch.
02:41And then from the public near the end, we've been errored.
02:46And then we were out.
02:46We begin with the jump.
02:46jean,
02:46We're out here about 10 minutes.
