How does the RM16 million track upgrade cost compare to past F1 hosting fees?

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Malaysia’s RM16 million annual Sepang upgrade cost is far lower than past F1 hosting costs that ran into the hundreds of millions, though the exact 2017 fee figure is not stated

Malaysia’s only stated expense for hosting the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 at Sepang is about RM16 million per year for track upgrades and maintenance to meet motorsport event standards. In 2017, when Malaysia last staged an F1 race at Sepang, hosting costs “ran into hundreds of millions,” and other countries’ hosting costs were described as being at least RM1 billion. The comparison, therefore, is that RM16 million is presented as a much smaller figure than the “hundreds of millions” level seen in 2017 and well below the “at least RM1 billion” range cited for other countries.
RM16 million is the only cost Malaysia said it will bear
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will not incur any registration fees from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) for the 2026 race. He also said the only expenditure Malaysia would bear is for upgrading the Sepang track, with about RM16 million required annually to maintain the Sepang International Circuit to meet motorsport hosting standards.
Past Malaysia hosting costs in 2017 ran into the hundreds of millions
In explaining the difference from the 2026 arrangement, Anwar referred to the last time Malaysia hosted an F1 race in 2017. He said the costs then “ran into hundreds of millions,” without breaking out the amount into registration fees versus other costs.
Other countries’ hosting costs were cited as at least RM1 billion
The same remarks contrasted Malaysia’s RM16 million figure with broader international figures. Hosting costs elsewhere were described as running into hundreds of millions or at least RM1 billion, setting a much higher benchmark than the RM16 million annual maintenance and upgrades figure.
The exact past fee amount is not provided for a precise like-for-like comparison
The available information does not state the specific FIA registration fees Malaysia paid in 2017. It also does not provide a breakdown showing how much of the “hundreds of millions” in 2017 was registration-related versus other hosting expenses, so the comparison can only be made at the level of the broad ranges cited.

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How does the RM16 million track upgrade cost compare to past F1 hosting fees?

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