The future of the Malaysian Grand Prix is under threat once its current contract expires in 2018, with circuit CEO Datuk Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali suggesting the country should “take a break” from the sport as it’s “no longer exciting”.
Malaysia’s Speang International Circuit has hosted F1 since 1999 and was the first Asian race on the calendar, aside from Japan.
However with race attendance at its lowest according to Razlan, at just 60 percent capacity, he believes it’s time the country reconsidered hosting the sport once the current deal expires.
“Maybe it will do Malaysia good to take a break,” he is quoted as saying by Malaysia’s New Straits Times.
“I think the product is no longer exciting. It’s being dominated by one team,” he added.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s minister of youth and sports Khairy Jamaluddin, added his support to dropping the race, believing MotoGP offers better racing at a better value.
“I think we should stop hosting the F1. At least for a while,” he wrote on Twitter. “Cost too high, returns limited.
“When we first hosted the F1 it was a big deal. First in Asia outside Japan. Now so many venues. No first-mover advantage. Not a novelty.
“For the record, I still think we should host MotoGP. 1) Cheaper fee and cost, 2) Sellout crowd, 3) We have riders in Moto2 and 3.”
Circuit bosses and shareholders are due to hold a meeting this week to discuss MotoGP’s future, however, despite reports, a decision on its F1 contract won’t be made this week.