{
  "id": 12516224,
  "title": "F1 dan Sepang",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/f1-dan-sepang",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T01:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2026/10/07/f1-dan-sepang"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Formula One (F1) season in Malaysia is set to end in 2018, with the final race in Sepang due to end that year. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak expressed concerns about Malaysia's decision to end its F1 contract, stating that the country had to bear high costs for the contract renewal starting in 2018. Other officials, such as Minister of Sports and Youth Khairy Jamaluddin, also expressed their views on the matter. The main reasons cited for ending the F1 contract included high costs, lack of improvement in fan numbers and international visitors, loss of exclusive rights, and falling ticket sales and television viewership. Despite these concerns, many Malaysians, including former F1 drivers, fans, and journalists, expressed their desire for F1 to return to Sepang. CEO of Sepang International Circuit, Azhan Shafriman Hanif, warned that once Formula 1 leaves a circuit, it is extremely difficult to bring it back. The calendar for the F1 season has a strict number of races, and when Malaysia relinquished its slot, many countries worldwide lined up to take its place, which could make it challenging for Malaysia to regain its F1 slot in the future.",
  "summary": "Litar Sepang masih di lokasi sama -- jauh daripada Kuala Lumpur. Semasa GP Bahrain diadakan tempoh hari, 100,000 penonton datang.",
  "key_points": [
    "F1 season in Malaysia to end in Sepang in 2018",
    "Concerns over high costs and declining fan numbers",
    "Former drivers, fans, journalists desire for F1 return"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "F1 dan Sepang",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/f1-dan-sepang-12517783",
        "published": "2026-10-07T01:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}