'Zoom, zoom? What's the excitement?' — Anwar recalls wife's F1 reaction

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim shared a light-hearted exchange with his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, over her lack of enthusiasm for Formula One ahead of the recent race at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

Speaking at the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2026 today, Anwar said he had invited his wife to join him at the race, but she appeared unimpressed by the sport's appeal.

He said he had jokingly described Formula One as an "endless, expensive sport" before asking her to accompany him.

"She said, 'But you see...' I said, 'Yes, an endless, expensive sport, that.'

"She said, 'My dear, you can hardly see them? They zoom, zoom (so fast).' Why the excitement about zoom?" he recounted, drawing laughter from the audience.

"And you know, we survive by not arguing with our wives," he quipped.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was held at SIC from Friday to Sunday, marking Formula One's return to the circuit after a nine-year absence.

The race was relocated from Bahrain to Malaysia amid the security situation in the Middle East.

Anwar was among the dignitaries who attended the race, which attracted more than 100,000 fans and saw Max Verstappen claim victory in a rain-hit event.