KUALA LUMPUR – Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has sought to ease growing public concern over the RM60 daily allowance for volunteers at this year’s Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, clarifying that the amount is not the confirmed rate for the event but the standard allowance currently displayed for all SIC volunteer programmes.
Speaking to Scoop, SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif said no specific allowance has been approved for Formula 1 volunteers, stressing that the RM60 figure circulating online had been listed on the circuit’s official volunteer portal long before the return of Formula 1 was announced.
“The RM60 being discussed is the general volunteer allowance applicable to all SIC events and should not be interpreted as the confirmed allowance for Formula 1.
“It has been displayed on the SIC portal for quite some time through our official channels. It is a standard volunteer allowance that applies across events organised by SIC, and no specific allowance for the Formula 1 volunteer programme has been announced at this stage,” he said.
Azhan’s clarification follows Scoop’s earlier report that the RM60 daily allowance had sparked widespread debate online, with many Malaysians questioning whether it was appropriate compensation for volunteers at one of the world’s most commercially successful sporting events.
Economist Geoffrey Williams of Williams Business Consultancy also told Scoop that such a rate could create a perception of exploitation, given Formula 1’s global financial stature.
The controversy arose after SIC opened applications for volunteers for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled to take place at Sepang from Oct 2 to 4. The volunteer application page stated that successful applicants would receive an allowance of RM60 per day, along with meals during the race weekend.
However, Azhan said the Formula 1 volunteer programme is still being finalised, including the allowance, roles and overall structure.
“Any information relating to the volunteer structure, roles, responsibilities and benefits for the Formula 1 event will only be announced once the official planning for the programme has been finalised.
“At this point, no specific details have been confirmed. We ask the public not to draw conclusions based on the existing volunteer information available on our portal, as it is not exclusive to Formula 1.”
He also moved to clear up confusion between volunteers and race marshals, emphasising that the two perform distinct functions during the event.
“Volunteers and marshals perform entirely different functions and should not be confused with one another.
“Marshals carry out specialised operational and safety responsibilities during the race, while volunteers are assigned to various support roles depending on the event’s requirements.
“Further announcements will be made in due course once all aspects of the programme have been finalised.”
Formula 1 will return to Sepang for the first time since 2017 after Malaysia was confirmed as the replacement host for the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the country’s long-awaited return to the Formula 1 calendar. – August 3, 2026