Lewis Hamilton behaved like a champion on a day of bad news for Formula 1 in Shanghai.

It began with the news that the Malaysians won’t be renewing their contract to stage a grand prix when the existing arrangement runs out in 2018. After 18 years the organisers and Liberty Media have agreed to end the deal a year early.

While popular with the F1 circus itself, the event never really engaged an impecunious populace for whom ticket prices were always too high, and as costs rose and the adjacent race in Singapore offered harmful competition, the Malaysian Grand Prix became economically untenable.

It will be replaced by the German Grand Prix, which will return in 2018.

"It's always sad to say goodbye to a member of the Formula 1 family,” F1 managing director of commercial operations, Sean Bratches, said. “Over nearly two decades, the Malaysian Formula 1 fans have proven themselves to be some of the sport's most passionate supporters.

"As we said in Melbourne, we have big plans for bringing our global fan base closer to the sport than ever before, providing an enhanced digital experience and creating new events.

"We're looking forward to talking more about these plans as the season progresses.

"We will have 21 exciting events to look forward to in the 2018 calendar, with the additions of the French and German races.”

There wasn’t much for the spectators at Shanghai International Circuit to applaud today as poor visibility caused by inclement weather and what a real-time air quality index for Shanghai described as ‘unhealthy’ measurement, interrupted both practice sessions.

The morning’s was delayed 45 minutes because the medical helicopter would not have been able to land at the local hospital in the event of having to transfer an injured driver. The session did run briefly as conditions improved momentarily, enabling Max Verstappen to set the fastest time for Red Bull ahead of the Williams drivers Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll, but had to be stopped as visibility deteriorated again. The afternoon session never got going, for similar reasons.

Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the Chinese Grand Prix Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Hamilton crosses the finish line to take victory in the Chinese Grand Prix Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Max Verstappen was able to hold off Daniel Ricciardo in a late intra-Red Bull challenge Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Hamilton controlled the race form the front as he led every lap Reuters Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Kimi Raikkonen struggled as he was passed by Vettel, Verstappen and Ricciardo Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Max Verstappen lit up Shanghai by passing nine cars on the first lap of the Chinese Grand Prix EPA Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Valterri Bottas had to fight back through the field after spinning behind the safety car Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton took the 54th Grand Prix victory of his career Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Antonio Giovinazzi lost control of his Sauber on the start-finish straight Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Anonio Giovinazzi climbs out of his Sauber after crashing early on Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Lance Stroll was too overeager on the opening lap and paid the price Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix Sebastian Vettel saw his shot at Lewis Hamilton robbed by the safety car Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Chinese Grand Prix The start of the Chinese Grand Prix saw the rare sight of a standing grid in wet conditions Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Saturday qualifying Hamilton celebrates after putting his Mercedes on pole position AFP Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Saturday qualifying Hamilton qualified for the second Grand Prix in succession. Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday second practice Lewis Hamilton took to the track to sign caps and throw them to fans after practice was cancelled Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday second practice Lewis Hamilton tweeted his ideas for how Formula One could be improved through a shorter weekend Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday First Practice Max Verstappen set the fastest time in first practice. Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday First Practice Lewis Hamilton chose not to set a time despite taking to the track. Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday First Practice Fernando Alonso ended the session in seventh place for McLaren. Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday First Practice Felipe Massa navigates his way through the rain. Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday First Practice Nico Hulkenberg spun out of first practice. Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday First Practice Max Verstappen was more then 1.5 seconds quicker than any other driver in first practice. Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday First Practice Stoffel Vandoorne wait to leave the pits. Getty Chinese Grand Prix 2017 in pictures Friday First Practice Felipe Massa sits and waits on the Williams pit wall as the rain continues to fall. Getty

There was only so much amusement for the television cameras to capture as spectators struggled to spell their hero Sebastian Vettel’s name properly with their individual letter flags, and unlike Texas in 2015 when torrential rain affected qualifying, there were no boat races or impromptu dance sessions between the Red Bull drivers to enliven things.