Mumbai: After 19 years, Malaysia will pull out of the Formula One circuit. The decision comes after the struggle to attract crowd which follows a low level of return. Despite the continuous decline in the petrol prices the home-boy Petronas, will still be an active sponsor of the Mercedes team. The plunging of oil prices is also one of the reasons why Malaysia is pulling itself out of the race. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a statement, “The Cabinet has agreed to end the contract for hosting the Formula One race starting 2018 after considering lowering returns to the country compared to the cost of hosting the championships.”
Now, that Malaysia is shutting its door, it’s going to be a rough ride for the new American owners of F1-liberty media-to find a new venue. For the past couple of years F1 has lost its control over the American audiences and even the Europeans are shifting to other means of motor sports. Said Sean Bratches, MD, Commercial Operations, F1. “There are big plans for bringing our global fans closer to the sport than ever before, providing an enhanced digital experience and creating new events. We’re looking to talking more about these plans as the season progresses. We will have 21 exciting events to look forward to in the 2018 calendar, with the additions of the French and German races. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Sepang International Circuit for their hospitality and professionalism over the years, and their ongoing commitment to motorsport.”
After so many years of racing history, the Sepang international circuit has contributed so many unforgettable moments to an F1 fan. Let’s hope that the new owners can shake things up and try to revive the interest of the F1 fans.
(With inputs from F1 website, The Telegraph and BBC)