The 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix "will be the country's last after 19 years on the Formula 1 calendar," according to Andrew Benson of the BBC. The decision, announced by F1 Managing Dir, Commercial Operations Sean Bratches, came after the country's government "questioned the value of the race." Bratches said that the F1 calendar would have 21 races in '18, despite the loss of the southeast Asian event. Malaysia was "in the vanguard of the new races that came to define Bernie Ecclestone's final years in charge of the sport." A "state-of-the-art facility" was built and the race funded with government money as the country "sought to make a name for itself on the global stage" (BBC, 4/7). REUTERS' Rozanna Latiff reported that "the Oct. 1 race this year would be the last." Bratches said, "It's always sad to say goodbye to a member of the Formula 1 family." Malaysia PM Najib Razak said on Friday that "declining ticket sales, viewership and tourism were behind the decision to pull out of hosting the race." Razak: "The Cabinet has agreed to end the contract for hosting the Formula One race ... after considering lowering returns to the country compared to the cost of hosting the championships." State oil and gas firm Petronas is the title sponsor of the F1 race. The company has been "hit hard in recent times by tumbling oil prices." Najib said that Petronas would continue to sponsor the Mercedes F1 team as part of its marketing strategy (REUTERS, 4/7).
