Victoria set for a delay to F1 race
March looks no- go
FORMULA One great Alan Jones says only a “bloody miracle” will allow the Australian Grand Prix to go ahead in March and that a rescheduled 2021 Melbourne race is “better than nothing”.
An Autosport report has suggested that the opening round of this year’s Formula One competition, scheduled for Melbourne on March 21, will be postponed because of Australia’s tough travel restrictions and fears over the emergence of a new strain of COVID- 19.
The March 28 race in Bahrain is reportedly now set to become the season- opening contest, with an August date now being mooted for the Melbourne race.
Jones, only one of two Australians to win the World Drivers’ Championship, said the public’s health had to be the priority, and that the season would run the risk of being “compromised” if the Melbourne race opened the year’s program in March.
“I have always loved the idea of Australia hosting the first round, because we’re the first ones to see new driver- car combinations, new regulations put into place ... we’re very fortunate that we’ve able to host the first round,” Jones said.
“But I can also understand
the other side, the unwillingness to travel to the other side of the world and be locked down for two weeks. It’s a big ask. It’s a logistics nightmare getting all those cars, equipment, and personnel, and all the TV stuff from one side of the earth to the other, even though they’ve become bloody good at it, but if they’ve got to stay an extra two weeks, it compromises the rest of the season.
“I’m hoping some bloody miracle will happen and we might reach a bit of a conclusion in the next couple of weeks, but failing that, I just can’t see it happening to be honest.”
A Victorian Government spokesman said the public’s safety remained the priority over the staging of the race.
“Discussions between the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, the Government and Formula One management about the Formula One calendar for 2021 are ongoing,” the spokesman said.