Formula One aim for May opener to season
THE Bahrain and Vietnam Grands Prix have been called off because of the coronavirus pandemic, as Formula 1 expect the season to begin in May.
The Bahrain race was due to be held behind closed doors on 22 March, with the Vietnam Grand Prix on 5 April.
The Australian and Chinese Grands Prix were already cancelled, with the Dutch Grand Prix scheduled for 3 May.
Organisers will assess the “viability of potential alternative dates” later this year should the situation improve.
“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,” said a statement.
It added: “As a result, Formula 1 and the FIA expect to begin the Championship in Europe at the end of May but given the sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in Europe in recent days, this will be regularly reviewed.”
It was announced on Thursday that the Australian Grand Prix had been called off after eight F1 workers had been assessed and tested for Covid-19. Seven were cleared on Thursday but an eighth, from McLaren, tested positive.
Vietnam Grand Prix organisers appear to have acted after the government in Hanoi banned travel into the country for anyone who has been in Italy - among other locations – in the previous 14 days.
The Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled to be the fourth race, was postponed in February after government officials said it could not go ahead.
The Giro d’Italia has become the biggest cycling race postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak so far. The race was scheduled to start in Hungary in May but the country has declared a state of emergency. Race organisers say a decision on rescheduling the event will not be made before 3 April.
“All parties have agreed that they will work together to enable the Giro d’Italia to depart from Hungary at a later time,” organisers RCS Sport said.
The first three stages of the 2020 Giro were planned to take place in Hungary, before moving to Italy for the final 18 stages.
Briton Simon Yates, who led the 2018 edition of the race for much of event before falling away late on, had been lined up to compete for his Mitchelton-Scott team, while Britain’s Team Ineos were also due to take part.
Movistar’s Richard Carapaz, who now rides for Team Ineos, won last year’s event, becoming the first Ecuadorian rider to win one of the three Grand Tours - the others being the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana.
Another prestigious cycling event, Milan-San Remo, has also been postponed because of Covid19. Meanwhile the Paris-Nice cycling race will end a day early, organizers said yesterday.