As Formula 1 decamped to Sepang ahead of Malaysia's grand prix, the prognosis for the first of F1's new breed of Asian races was not good.
The government would refuse to carry future events, went the line, having been forced to subsidise every edition since 2001 after only the first two Malaysian GPs broke even before the race was moved from the back end of the season to March/April.
Indeed, speaking to the media on the Friday of the final race under the prevailing contract, F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone was hopeful that an extension would be agreed, but added it would "probably not happen this weekend".