Bahrain, Vietnam GPs off because of coronavirus outbreak
PARIS, FRANCE (AP):
THE BAHRAIN and Vietnam Grand Prix (GP) races were postponed Friday because of the coronavirus outbreak, the third and fourth races of the Formula One season to be called off.
Bahrain was scheduled for next week — at an empty track — and the inaugural Vietnamese GP in Hanoi on April 5.
Governing body FIA ( Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) said in a statement that it will consider “the viability of potential alternative dates” later this year for Bahrain and Vietnam, “should the situation improve.”
The season could start in The Netherlands, at the Zandvoort track outside Amsterdam, on May 3.
SHARP INCREASE
“But, given the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Europe in recent days, this will be regularly reviewed,” the FIA said.
The season-opening Australian GP in Melbourne was called off as thousands of fans queued to get in for yesterday’s first practice session, while teams and drivers were packing up to leave.
“Formula 1, the FIA and the promoters have taken these decisions in order to ensure the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains our primary concern,” the FIA said in a statement.
Six-time F1 champion, Lewis Hamilton, who needs one more title to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles, said he was unhappy about the situation, but welcomed the decision.
“Sadly, this is the right decision,” Hamilton wrote on Twitter. “No one wants this, we all want to get in our cars and get racing, but we have to be realistic and we have to put health and safety first.”