For most, a 10th anniversary "is an occasion fit for celebration" but for the 2017 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, "festivities for this milestone are muted amid a future shrouded in uncertainty," according to Cynthia Choo of TODAY. The world’s "first and only night street race is entering the final leg of its five-year contract" inked in '12, with officials "keeping mum for months on the progress of negotiations." No one "can be sure if an extension is forthcoming." The organizers of the Singapore GP said that they are still in talks with F1 owner Liberty Media over contract extensions, and "they do not comment on ongoing commercial negotiations." Similarly, Singapore's Ministry of Trade & Industry "declined to reveal if any progress has been made." A spokesperson said, "We are in discussion with Formula 1 on the term renewal for F1 and are carefully considering several issues. More details will be shared when ready." On Thursday, F1 CEO Chase Carey said that his organization "is keen to renew the partnership with Singapore." But he "would not be drawn into details on the contract negotiations, or a timeline for talks to conclude." Carey added, "I will say we're obviously actively engaged and given this is the last race under our current deal, we recognize it's important for us to reach an agreement on what's the future. I’m not going to put that line to it (on whether talks will conclude by Sunday), I’ll say we're actively engaged." The future of the Singapore GP "is further muddled" after F1 Managing Dir, Commercial Operations Sean Bratches revealed in Shanghai last month that the world’s elite race promoter "is seeking two new street races in Asia." The timing of F1’s revelation that it is seeking alternative Asian race venues "is also not lost on observers, who believe it could be a matter of brinkmanship commonly seen in complex negotiations." F1 commentator Steve Slater said that making public its plans "to expand its Asian footprint might be a move by F1 to nudge the Singapore GP into staying for the party." Slater: "Of course it is, it is all part of the posturing of a major contract discussion" (TODAY, 9/14).
