Covid-19 forces F1 to push back start of season to May as Australia GP is cancelled

The Covid-19 coronavirus is coming for everything – no one and no sport is safe. Formula 1 is the latest victim, with the season opener the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne cancelled just a hours before it was set to start on Friday.

Now F1’s governing body, the FIA has announced that the season will only be starting in May.

The announcement followed the postponement of the Bahrain Grand Prix which was scheduled to take place next weekend and the Vietnam Grand Prix scheduled for early April.

In a joint statement, the FIA and F1 said they moved the start of the season to late May due to the fluid nature of the Covid-19 globally. “We have taken these decisions to ensure the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains our primary concern,” the statement read.

The Australian Grand Prix was cancelled after the McLaren team announced they were withdrawing from the race after one member of the team tested positive for the virus.

F1 and FIA said the situation would be reviewed in May. “We were expecting to begin the Championship in Europe at the end of May but given the sharp increase in the Covid-19 cases in Europe, this will be regularly reviewed.”

F1 chairperson and CEO Chase Carey said that the Bahrain Grand Prix was an exciting race in the calendar. “We look forward to being back there as soon as we can,” Carey said, adding that they were also looking forward to Vietnams’ inaugural race. “We looking forward to bringing the spectacle to one of the most exciting cities in the world,” he said.

FIA president Jean Todt said that protecting people came first. “We continue to rely on the input and advice from the World Health Organisation and governments. We will work with them throughout this unpredictable period to safeguard the fans, competitors and all of the motor sport community,” Todt said.

Sthembiso Lebuso Journalist | City Press

+27 11 713 9001 Sthembiso.Lebuso@citypress.co.za Media Park, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park

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