First included in the Formula One World Championship in 1999, the current Malaysian Grand Prix is held at the hyper-modern Sepang International Circuit at Sepang, Malaysia. FIA-sanctioned racing in Malaysia has existed since the 1960s.

Preceding racing tournaments

The 1962-1965 seasons of the original Formula 2 Grand Prix held on the Thompson Road circuit in Singapore is regarded as an earlier precedence of the Malaysian Grand Prix, when Singapore was originally part of the Malaysian federation from 1963 to 1965. After Singapore's expulsions from the federation in 1965, the Grand Prix continued on until 1973. After witnessing the success of Malaysian Grand Prix, a new Singaporean Grand Prix to be held at the Singapore Street Circuit will occur in the 2008 season of the Formula One World Championship.

Between Singapore's explusion and the opening of Sepang Circuit, Malaysia hosted a range of other racing tournaments at Shah Alam's own circuit between 1968 to 1995, including the Tasman Series (1968-1972), Formula Pacific (1973-1974, 1978-1982), Formula Atlantic (1975), Formula Two (1977) and Formula Holden (1995).

Formula One at the Sepang International Circuit

The nine World Championship Malaysian Grands Prix have seen a good deal of action on and off the track, whilst the weather — furnace heat one minute, tropical storm the next — adds extra spice. The most notable Grand Prix at Sepang to date was the inaugural event in 1999. It saw Michael Schumacher return to the sport after his absence due to a broken leg sustained at that year's British Grand Prix, dominating the race and handing the victory to title-hopeful team-mate Eddie Irvine, only for both Ferraris to be disqualified due to a technical irregularity, handing the title — until the steward's decision was over-ruled — to Mika Häkkinen.

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 fastar than anyone else on the field. Elsewhere, the race was even lead by Jos Verstappen, surprisingly. However, as the track begun to dry, he fell back to 7th, but his efforts to keep positions were memorable.

Since 2001, the Malaysian Grand Prix has moved from the end of the schedule to the beginning, which has seen some topsy-turvy results as teams and drivers get 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 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 April 23, 2007. The circuit was given a renewed contract in 2006 to organise the Malaysian Grand Prix for another five years..

Night race

On February 13 the Sepang International circuit announced its aim was to become Formula One's second night race from 2009 after discussions about buying a floodlighting system. Its plans seem to be moving forward when Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, the chairman of the circuit, revealed that they were in the process of securing a lighting system. He was quoted as saying, "They might be custom made for the circuit."

Formula BMW Asia and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia have supported the Malaysian Grand Prix since 2003. BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen presented the trophies to the race winners in 2003.