KUALA LUMPUR – Formula 1 may be all about high speed, but for fans attending the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit (SIC), it’s the high prices at the food stalls leaving them breathless.
Spectators have flooded social media with eye-watering price tags for basic local fare sold around the track, triggering a viral debate over vendor gouging versus event operational costs.
Among the most shocking claims making the rounds online are RM50 plates of nasi ayam kunyit (turmeric chicken rice) and nasi goreng Cina (Chinese fried rice), alongside RM30 bags of pickled mango (mangga asam boi), and RM25 cups of iced Milo and fresh fruit juices.
Disbelieving fans quickly turned to Threads and TikTok to express their frustration.
“How can Chinese fried rice be sold for RM50? Bruuhhhh, I swear I bought this for RM7 at a mamak shop yesterday,” posted Threads user @myk3_mash.
For others, the steep food costs served as a hilarious—yet painful—reminder of why they chose to stay home altogether.
“Fuhh, no wonder I didn’t feel inspired to go to F1. We are definitely not the target audience. Momma can’t afford this, girl,” joked user @daripadakeme.gifts, as reported by Berita Harian.
High rent or pure greed?
As the backlash mounted online, some netizens stepped in to defend the vendors, citing the astronomical cost of securing a commercial booth at a global motorsport event.
Commentators pointed out that site rental fees for the three-day race weekend can easily reach five figures, forcing sellers to mark up prices dramatically just to break even.
“The prices are like that because site rental for three days is RM30,000, and some places even cost over RM100,000. If you want cheap, just watch F1 on TV and buy food at the night market,” claimed @mudayat98.
“Even RM25 is considered cheap in that context. On top of that, the F1 organizers also take around 20 per cent of sales revenue, if I’m not mistaken,” the user added.
The viral dispute has sparked a wider conversation on the cost of attending major international events in Malaysia, highlighting the stark contrast between street-food prices outside the gates and the premium charged inside the grandstands. – October 3, 2026