Satu hantaran media sosial oleh Hannah Yeoh baru-baru ini telah mencetuskan semula perbincangan mengenai kemungkinan Formula 1 kembali ke Malaysia.

Dalam hantaran tersebut, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Wilayah Persekutuan) itu berkongsi gambar throwback pertemuan bersama Toto Wolff, Prinsipal dan CEO Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, serta Pengerusi Sepang International Circuit (SIC) Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz dan CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif.

Kapsyen hantaran itu menyebut mengenai “perbincangan yang baik untuk meneroka potensi kolaborasi di Malaysia”, namun tiada butiran lanjut didedahkan.

Memandangkan ia merupakan hantaran throwback, masa sebenar pertemuan tersebut tidak diketahui. Ia berkemungkinan berlaku sekitar tempoh Grand Prix Singapura tahun lalu ketika Yeoh masih memegang portfolio Menteri Belia dan Sukan, namun perkara ini tidak disahkan.

Walau bagaimanapun, hantaran tersebut sudah cukup untuk menghidupkan semula spekulasi dalam kalangan peminat mengenai kemungkinan Formula 1 kembali ke Litar Sepang.

Malaysia kali terakhir menjadi tuan rumah Formula 1 pada tahun 2017, sebelum perlumbaan itu dihentikan berikutan kos penganjuran yang tinggi serta pulangan yang semakin menurun.

Sebelum ini, Hannah Yeoh pernah menyatakan bahawa tiada perancangan untuk membawa Formula 1 kembali dalam masa terdekat, dengan yuran penganjuran dianggarkan sekitar RM300 juta setahun selain komitmen kontrak jangka panjang.

Namun begitu, beliau turut menyatakan bahawa pintu tidak ditutup sepenuhnya, dengan Malaysia terbuka untuk menganjurkan semula Formula 1 sekiranya terdapat pihak swasta yang sanggup menanggung kos tersebut.

Walaupun pertemuan ini tidak mengesahkan sebarang perancangan, ia melibatkan beberapa pihak penting termasuk kerajaan, pengurusan Sepang Circuit dan salah satu pasukan terbesar dalam Formula 1.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team juga mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan Malaysia melalui Petronas sebagai penaja utama, dan pasukan tersebut dilaporkan berada di Malaysia baru-baru ini sebelum perlumbaan di Melbourne.

Buat masa ini, tiada pengumuman rasmi mengenai kembalinya Formula 1 ke Malaysia. Namun, frasa “potensi kolaborasi” sudah cukup untuk menghidupkan semula perbincangan.

A recent social media post by Hannah Yeoh has sparked fresh discussion about the possibility of Formula 1 (F1) returning to Malaysia.

In the post, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) shared a throwback photo of a meeting with Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, alongside Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chairman Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz and CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif.

The caption mentioned a “wonderful conversation exploring potential collaboration in Malaysia”, though no further details were provided.

As the post was shared as a throwback, it is unclear when the meeting took place. Based on timing, it could have been during last year’s Singapore Grand Prix period when Yeoh was still serving as Youth and Sports Minister, although this has not been confirmed.

Regardless, the post has reignited speculation among fans about a potential return of Formula 1 to Sepang. No plans previously, but door not fully closed. Malaysia last hosted Formula 1 in 2017, with the race discontinued due to high costs and declining returns.

Previously, Hannah Yeoh had stated that there were no plans to bring Formula 1 back in the near future, citing the estimated annual hosting fee of around RM300 million, along with multi-year commitments required by rights holder Liberty Media.

However, she also noted that the door was not fully closed, adding that Malaysia would be open to hosting Formula 1 again if there are corporate entities willing to fund the event.

While the meeting itself does not confirm any plans, it does bring together key stakeholders, including government representatives, Sepang Circuit management and one of Formula 1’s leading teams. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team also maintains strong ties with Malaysia through Petronas, which has been a long-standing title sponsor.

The team was recently in Malaysia ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, further adding to the timing of renewed interest. For now, there is no indication that Formula 1 is returning to Malaysia. Still, the mention of “potential collaboration” is enough to get fans talking once again.

File this under things nobody saw coming. We are barely out of the Formula 1 season opener in Australia and already reports are hinting that Chinese carmaker BYD is contemplating an entry into motorsports premier racing series in a bid to boost its global appeal.

The report by Bloomberg cited people familiar with the matter, stating that the carmaker is looking into several genres of motorsports as racing transitions towards hybrid engines. Apart from F1, BYD are considering the World Endurance Championship, of which the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans is a part of. The move could include building its own team or even acquiring an existing one.

Like all forms of racing, the biggest hurdle would be cost. F1 is renowned for its elitist participation and just having the money alone is not enough to secure a spot on the grid. The newest team on the roster, Cadillac F1, took years of negotiations to finally be allowed entry.

Building a team from scratch, developing a car and paying the entry fees could cost as much as USD 500 million a season.

Motorsports involvement by Chinese carmakers are still few and far between, especially considering the elite tier of racing is dominated by European and American outfits. Nio did win the inaugural driver’s title in Formula E back in 2015 while Geely hit the track with Cyan Racing and a Lynk & Co 03 car before switching to the new Geely Preface TCR for the 2026 FIA TCR World Tour.

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BYD recently dethroned Tesla as the world’s best-selling EV brand, courtesy of its aggressive push into Latin American, European and Asian markets. Only US tariffs are preventing it from taking on another major auto market.

While having made its name with entry-level and mid-range electric or hybrid vehicles, BYD is attempting a push into the luxury segment. It is off to a good start as its YangWang U9 Xtreme is officially the fastest car on earth with a verified top speed of 496.22 kph.

F1 is experiencing a popularity resurgence in China, fuelled by a combination of its return to Shanghai in 2024 following a five-year hiatus, Zhou Guanyu became the first Chinese F1 driver in 2022 and Netflix’s Drive To Survive series. In fact, the second race of the 2026 calendar after Australia is the Chinese Grand Prix this coming weekend.

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The FIA have been vocal about welcoming Chinese participation. Its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, stated that a Chinese manufacturer is the next logical step following Cadillac’s entry.

As mentioned before, entry is not as simple as throwing money and showing up. Existing F1 teams are notoriously resistant to new teams as it dilutes the prize money and team valuations.

The alternative is buying an existing team. This is what Audi did, acquiring the previous Sauber team as its works team. Even former champions Red Bull purchased what was previously Jaguar Racing Formula One in 2004.

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There is currently a stake for sale in Alpine Racing. Another potential opportunity could be Aston Martin. After some promising performance over the past few years, the team underwent a devastating start to the 2026 season with underperforming power units and reliability issues stemming from harsh vibrations.

Alternatively, a technical partnership with an existing team could lay the foundations for a path to F1 for BYD. Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) became the Official Technical Partner of the Haas F1 Team, bringing technical resources and manufacturing capabilities while the team continues to run Ferrari powertrains.

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Current F1 regulations have increased the electrical component of the hybrid powertrain, contributing up to 50% with a 300% increase in electric power to 350 kW over 2025 rules. As the world’s second largest EV battery manufacturer, BYD’s battery expertise would be welcomed as a technical partner.

Nonetheless, we are years away from seeing BYD on the grid, if at all, as the carmaker may decide to forego the motorsports route.

McLaren Racing mengesahkan bahawa Enkei akan kembali sebagai wheel supplier untuk pasukan Formula 1 mereka bermula musim 2026.

Kerjasama ini kembali terjalin susulan perubahan regulasi yang membenarkan pasukan memilih pembekal rim masing-masing. Sejak 2022, semua pasukan Formula 1 menggunakan rim standard yang dibekalkan oleh BBS sebagai sebahagian daripada langkah kawalan kos bersama penggunaan tayar 18 inci.

Mulai 2026, pasukan akan kembali bebas memilih supplier rim sendiri. Sebelum sistem rim standard diperkenalkan, pasukan Formula 1 lazimnya bekerjasama dengan pengeluar khusus seperti Enkei dan OZ Racing. FIA berpendapat pembangunan rim tidak akan menghasilkan kelebihan prestasi yang besar antara pasukan, sekali gus membolehkan pilihan supplier dibuka semula tanpa menjejaskan keseimbangan persaingan.

Walaupun begitu, saiz rim kekal 18 inci, manakala Pirelli terus menjadi pembekal tayar tunggal sekurang-kurangnya sehingga 2027.

Hubungan antara McLaren dan Enkei bukan sesuatu yang baharu. Pengeluar Jepun itu sebelum ini membekalkan forged magnesium racing wheels kepada McLaren dari 1995 hingga 2021, sebelum kerjasama tersebut dihentikan sementara apabila sistem rim standard diperkenalkan pada 2022.

Bagi musim 2026, Enkei akan membangunkan forged magnesium wheels baharu untuk jentera Formula 1 generasi seterusnya milik McLaren. Perubahan ini merupakan sebahagian daripada regulasi baharu Formula 1 2026, yang turut memperkenalkan kereta yang lebih pendek, ringan dan sempit bersama peraturan hybrid power unit yang diperbaharui.

McLaren Racing has confirmed that Enkei will return as an official wheel supplier for its Formula 1 programme beginning with the 2026 season.

The renewed partnership follows regulatory changes that will once again allow teams to choose their own wheel suppliers. Since 2022, Formula 1 teams have used standardised wheels supplied by BBS as part of a cost-control measure introduced alongside the shift to 18-inch tyres. From 2026 onwards, teams will regain the freedom to source rims independently.

Before the introduction of standardised wheels, Formula 1 teams typically worked with specialist wheel manufacturers such as Enkei and OZ Racing. The FIA concluded that wheel development is unlikely to create large performance gaps between teams, making it suitable to reopen supplier choice without significantly affecting competitive balance.

Allowing teams to select their own suppliers also enables quicker responses to design revisions or manufacturing issues, while creating additional commercial opportunities through technical partnerships and sponsorship agreements. Despite the regulatory changes, wheel diameter will remain at 18 inches, with Pirelli continuing as the sole tyre supplier to Formula 1 until at least 2027.

The collaboration between McLaren and Enkei is not new. The Japanese wheel manufacturer previously supplied the team from 1995 to 2021, covering multiple generations of McLaren Formula 1 machinery. During that period, Enkei developed lightweight forged magnesium racing wheels for the team, contributing to several championship-era cars. The introduction of standardised wheels in 2022 effectively paused the technical partnership.

With the regulation change for 2026, both companies will resume collaboration on the design, development and manufacture of new racing wheels for McLaren’s next-generation Formula 1 car.

For the 2026 season, Enkei will develop advanced forged magnesium wheels designed for the extreme loads and thermal conditions experienced in Formula 1. Forged magnesium construction is valued in motorsport for its combination of low weight, high stiffness and durability, which can improve both performance and reliability over the course of a race weekend.

Neil Houldey, Executive Director and Technical Director of Applied Engineering at McLaren Racing, said the partnership would play a role in the development of the team’s next-generation car. “We are delighted to welcome Enkei to the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team. Their history of technical excellence in motorsport and focus on high performance will play an important role in taking the MCL40 to track this season,” he said.

Makato Miura, President of Enkei Corporation, added that the collaboration continues a long-standing technical relationship between the two organisations. “The 26-year journey we shared with the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team from 1995 to 2021 remains an invaluable chapter in Enkei’s history. We are honoured to return as an official supplier,” he said.

The return of independent wheel suppliers is one of several changes accompanying Formula 1’s major 2026 regulation overhaul. The next-generation cars will be shorter, lighter and narrower, with revised aerodynamic rules and new hybrid power unit regulations aimed at improving efficiency and attracting additional manufacturers to the sport.

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Skim warna hitam dan emasnya yang menyerlah memberi penghormatan kepada livery JPS yang ikonik, manakala pembinaannya daripada keluli tahan karat dan aluminium yang diperbaharui daripada tiub plenum kereta asal menambah sambungan ketara kepada jentera F1 yang bersejarah. Kaca atas kristal nilam memastikan ketahanan, dan tali kulit menawarkan keselesaan dan gaya. Dengan rintangan air 100 meter, ia direka untuk dinikmati oleh peminat di dalam dan di luar trek.

Terhad kepada hanya 989 unit, setiap jam tangan berharga $3,995 (RM19,048), dengan pembeli pra-pesanan menerima harga diskaun $3,195 (RM15,233). Walau bagaimanapun, peminat perlu bersabar kerana jam tangan tidak akan tersedia sehingga Mac 2025. Walaupun menunggu, permintaan untuk kepingan sejarah F1 ini adalah tinggi, dengan sebahagian besar pengeluaran terhad telah pun ditempah. Sehingga 26 April, hanya 173 pra-pesanan kekal tersedia, menjadikannya penting untuk peminat bertindak pantas untuk mendapatkan warisan perlumbaan mereka sendiri.

The watch features a striking black and gold colour scheme reminiscent of the iconic JPS livery. Constructed primarily from stainless steel, it incorporates reforged aluminium from the car’s original plenum tubes into the Chapter Ring surrounding the dial, adding a tangible connection to the historic F1 machine. The top glass is crafted from sapphire crystal for durability, while the leather strap ensures comfort and style. With a water resistance rating of 100 meters, it’s a timepiece designed for enthusiasts both on and off the track.

Limited to just 989 examples, each watch is priced at $3,995 (RM19,048), with pre-order buyers receiving a discounted price of $3,195 (RM15,233). However, eager collectors will need to exercise patience as the watches won’t be available until March 2025. Despite the wait, the demand for these pieces of F1 history is high, with the majority of the limited production already spoken for. As of April 26, only 173 pre-orders remain available, making it imperative for enthusiasts to act swiftly to secure their piece of racing heritage.

RB17 akan menampilkan enjin V10 semulajadi yang berputar tinggi tanpa penurunan daya dengan garis merah yang mengagumkan pada 15,000rpm. Dengan 1000bhp dari V10 dan tambahan 200bhp dari motor elektrik, hypercar ini direka untuk menyamai masa pusing Formula 1. Motor elektrik tidak hanya akan meningkatkan daya tetapi juga berfungsi sebagai motor pemula dan membolehkan pemacuan berundur.

Aston Martin Valkyrie

Aerodinamik RB17 akan memainkan peranan penting dalam mencapai prestasi luar biasa. Dilengkapi dengan sistem suspensi aktif, kereta ini akan menghasilkan daya turun yang ketara. Pada 193km/j, ia akan menghasilkan daya turun setara dengan beratnya, mencapai puncak 1700kg pada 241km/j. Suspensi aktif ditentukur untuk menangani variasi beban dinamik ini.

Sistem suspensi aktif RB17 membolehkan fleksibiliti penyusunan untuk memenuhi pelbagai tahap kemahiran. Daya turun kereta dapat disesuaikan, dan imbangan mekanikalnya dapat diselaraskan dengan mudah untuk sesuai dengan gaya pemanduan yang berbeza. Red Bull akan menawarkan sesi latihan simulator untuk membantu pemandu menyesuaikan diri dengan kebolehan RB17.

Dengan sasaran berat yang ditetapkan di bawah 900kg, RB17 bertujuan untuk mencapai nisbah kuasa-ke-berat yang luar biasa. Reka bentuk kokpit tertutup bertujuan untuk selesa menampung dua orang, terutama pemandu yang lebih tinggi, membezakannya dari Valkyrie.

Red Bull merancang untuk mendedahkan model reka bentuk RB17 pada Jun tahun ini, dengan jangkaan pelancaran rasmi di trek pada tahun 2025 semasa hujung minggu Grand Prix Austria. Pengeluaran kereta pelanggan dijadualkan bermula pada tahun berikutnya. Dengan harga anggaran £5 juta (kira-kira RM30 juta) sebelum cukai tempatan, RB17 menawarkan rasa prestasi F1 kepada peminat tanpa rumitnya kelulusan jenis jalan. Pengeluaran akan terhad kepada hanya 50 unit.

Powerful Engine and Performance

The RB17 will feature a high-revving, naturally-aspirated V10 engine with an impressive 15,000rpm redline. Boasting 1000bhp from the V10 and an additional 200bhp from an electric motor, the hypercar is designed to match Formula 1 lap times. The electric motor will not only enhance power but also serve as a starter motor and enable reverse drive.

Aerodynamics and Downforce

The RB17’s aerodynamics will play a pivotal role in achieving its exceptional performance. Equipped with a blown diffuser and an active suspension system, the car will generate significant downforce. At 193km/h, it will generate its weight in downforce, peaking at 1700kg at 241km/h. The active suspension is calibrated to handle these dynamic load variations.

Adaptable for Different Skill Levels

To cater to a range of skill levels, the RB17’s active suspension system allows for setup flexibility. The car’s downforce can be adjusted, and its mechanical balance can be easily tuned to suit diverse driving styles. Red Bull will offer simulator training sessions to help drivers acclimate to the RB17’s capabilities.

Weight Target and Interior Design

With a weight target set below 900kg, the RB17 aims for an exceptional power-to-weight ratio. The closed cockpit design is intended to comfortably accommodate two occupants, particularly taller drivers, differentiating it from the Valkyrie.

Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar

Launch and Production Timeline

Red Bull plans to reveal a design model of the RB17 this June, anticipating an official track debut in 2025 during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Customer car production is scheduled to commence the following year. Priced at an estimated £5 million (around RM30 million) before local taxes, the RB17 offers a taste of F1 performance to enthusiasts without the complexities of road type approval. Production will be limited to just 50 units.

Streamlined Development Process

Given its track-only focus and exclusion from road regulations, the RB17’s development process is expected to be more straightforward compared to road-legal hypercars like the Valkyrie and Mercedes-AMG One, potentially avoiding delays and technical obstacles.