KUALA LUMPUR – Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will strengthen its ticketing safeguards ahead of any further Formula 1 ticket releases, with tighter controls being considered to prevent bulk purchases and automated buying.
The move follows complaints surrounding the initial ticket sales for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, amid concerns that scalpers could exploit high demand to acquire tickets and resell them at inflated prices.
SIC told Scoop in a statement that it was reviewing its existing safeguards with Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), particularly measures governing ticket purchases and verification.
The review will cover purchaser verification and existing purchase limits, as well as methods to identify automated systems and unusual bulk-buying activity.
SIC said the measures would be assessed to ensure the existing controls remained effective against attempts to circumvent ticketing conditions.
However, the circuit declined to disclose the specific anti-bot and security measures being considered to prevent automated purchases.
It said revealing such details could potentially provide individuals with information that would allow them to bypass the safeguards.
SIC is also assessing the effectiveness of measures already in place during the initial ticket sales, including whether existing purchase limits and verification checks were sufficient.
This includes examining whether restrictions could have been circumvented through methods such as multiple accounts, false information or automated systems.
The review comes as demand for the event remains high, with all 10,000 Madani tickets priced at RM200 sold, according to Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari.
The minister said yesterday that no additional Madani tickets had been issued at that point, although additional viewing areas could be considered before the event.
Based on the existing capacity, the ministry estimates that more than 110,000 spectators could attend the Formula 1 weekend at Sepang.
The Madani ticket initiative was introduced to give Malaysians a more affordable opportunity to attend the event, making protection of the allocation an important part of the ticketing review.
SIC said it would continue working with BIC to maintain the integrity of the ticketing process.
The circuit said its priority was to ensure tickets intended to improve accessibility for Malaysian fans reached genuine purchasers rather than unauthorised resellers.
With additional ticket availability being considered and demand expected to remain strong, the effectiveness of the enhanced safeguards will be closely watched should another batch be released. – September 4, 2026