South Asia’s F1 race future remains uncertain as on Nov 21 Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubt over the future of the sport in Southeast Asia by revealing to a German magazine that Singapore no longer wants to host a Grand Prix after its current deal expires next year. It seems to be double trouble for the South East Asia motorsports fans as even the neighboring Malaysia also pulled out of the championship after 2018 because of the declining ticket sales and TV viewership. With this move, it appears that the region will be left without a race for the first time since 1998.
As per the data revealed Singapore race costs some S$150 million ($105.04 million) to put on each year, 60 percent of which is funded by the Government. It was first staged in 2008 and since then the city renewed its contracts for another five years in 2012. However Ecclestone’s comments but a big question on the future of Motorsports and also suggested that the negotiations over a further extension have not gone well.
Ecclestone said “Look at what we have done for Singapore,” “Yes, the grand Prix has cost Singapore a lot of money, but we’ve also given them a lot of money.”Singapore was suddenly more than just an airport to fly to or from somewhere. Now they believe they have reached their goal and they do not want a grand Prix anymore.”
The event is organized in the city by Singapore GP, a private company owned by Ong Beng Seng one the richest man in Singapore. A spokesperson for the company in an email said that “We don’t comment on ongoing commercial negotiations.”
Ecclestone,86, attended this yeas Singapore’s race amid negotiations on the F1s takeover by US cable TV mogul John Malone’s Liberty Media. Formula One has already announced a record equalling 21 race provisional calendar for 2017 in September.
No doubt the Singapore race is one of the glamor rounds of the championship where the spectators at the circuit were entertained by internationally renowned music acts such as Beyonce and Justin Bieber. Crowds topped 100,000 on all three days in the first year have declined with almost averaging to 73,000 spectators for each day which is down from 87,000 in 2015. A sharp decline in ticket sales is one of the reasons behind this thought to look at bringing an end to their annual round of the championship.
