Malaysian Grand Prix: F1 circus arrives in shadow of missing flight MH370

Lewis Hamilton's car will read 'Come Home MH370' on its side panel in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix. Photograph: Hon Keong Soo/Demotix/Corbis

The Formula One circus arrived in Kuala Lumpur for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix to find a nation in sombre mood following the disappearance of flight MH370. The atmosphere at the normally humid and febrile Sepang circuit this weekend will be subdued.

As drivers, mechanics and engineers prepared for the second race of the season, they were met with the news that a concert to mark the Formula One weekend, which was to feature the US singer Christina Aguilera, had been cancelled as "a sign of respect to the families and next of kin of the crew and passengers of flight MH370", according to Petronas, the state oil company which sponsors both the annual show and the Mercedes Formula One team.

"It is truly a tragedy and we are deeply saddened about the crew and the passengers," said a statement by the company on the concert's Facebook page. The concert was due to be held at the Kuala Lumper Twin Towers and Saturday. The Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg said on Twitter that "all my prayers go to friends & families of the passengers on MH370".

The cars driven by Rosberg and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton will carry "Come Home MH370" messages on their side panels.

The Laureus World Sports Academy, which is also in town, scaled down its celebration of last year's leading sports personalities and the chairman, Ed Moses, announced that a football friendly between past greats would be dedicated to those hit by the disaster.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Shah, the sultan of Pahang – the third largest state in Malaysia – said that flags should be flown at half-mast for three days as a mark of respect.

The first 10 pages of 's Star newspaper were devoted to the tragedy, with more space for comment and letters deeper inside the issue. Earlier in the week the paper had printed a wrap, with "RIP" on the front and the back carrying the comment: "No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye, you were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why." The New Straits Times featured a Boeing 777 on its front page, with the headline "Goodnight, MH370".

But in Formula One, a sport which has never suffered unduly because of the thinness of its skin, the show will go on. The circuit's chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali said: "The atmosphere is subdued and I understand everyone is talking about it [the flight] everywhere and asking why we are hosting a Formula One race under the circumstances, but it is something that was decided a long time ago. The teams have arrived and the race will go on, including the post-race concert ... but we must be sensitive and not go overboard."

In the bustling shopping area around KL Sentral train station, feelings about the race were mixed. Shirah Hussin, a wellness coach, said: "Everyone is very sad because they have still not found the bodies, or the proof of what really happened. We are still in a sad mood so the race should be called off on Sunday. It is not the right time for a celebration."

Robbie Chan, a financial adviser, said: "The impact here has been very big. The reputation of the whole country is at stake. The plane and the crew was from Malaysia, from our government. They are all very concerned about this. We talk about it all day every day. We want the truth, an explanation. But I don't object to the Formula One going ahead. It is people's hobby."

Stockbroker KW Chan said: "Different people are expressing their grief in different ways. Some people put on a smiling face, some put on a sour face, others keep quiet. But generally everybody feels sad about this great loss.

"But it is not just a Malaysian tragedy. The whole world feels the same. I don't follow Formula One. I don't think there should be a big celebration but I have no problem with the race going ahead. A lot of work has gone into the weekend and a lot of people have come here to see the race."

Perhaps the tragedy will put into perspective the complaints from fansabout the reduced noise from the new 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines. This might be the time for a little decorum, even in the brash and rowdy world of Formula One.