#NSTviral: F1 race over, but memories linger; Sepang clips captivate fans

KUALA LUMPUR: The race is long over, but Malaysian fans are still reliving Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia through "cinematic video clips" of cars speeding past Sepang's grandstands against an orange sunset.

Videos circulating on Threads capture the evening atmosphere at Sepang International Circuit, with the fading sunlight and haze lending the event a movie-like quality.

One video posted by user @mxrul drew more than 42,500 likes and 311,000 views.

"Like something out of a movie. Only the haze spoils it," the user wrote.

User @saifuddinsuhaimy, whose video drew 638,000 views and 68,500 likes, wrote: "This is the most beautiful and priceless scene in F1, with the sunset as a backdrop. Hopefully, we'll meet again at Sepang."

Amid fans sharing their memories, some also called for a permanent return of F1 to Sepang.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Oct 4 race, ahead of Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari's Hamilton.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said the government is discussing Malaysia's return to the F1 calendar.

The Oct 2 to 4 event marked F1's return to the circuit after a nine-year absence, with Sepang last hosting a race in 2017.

The Bahrain GP was relocated to Sepang following an agreement involving the Malaysian and Bahrain governments, F1 and the FIA.