Fate of our Grand Prix race in June is uncertain

Organizers of the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix are still awaiting official word on whether they can go ahead with this year's race, which is scheduled for June 13 at Circuit Gilles-villeneuve.

Radio-canada reported on Thursday that the race has been cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns.

“As an organization, we still haven't gotten confirmation from the public health authorities,” Sandrine Garneau-le Bel, the director of communications and marketing for the Canadian GP, told the Montreal Gazette. “So until we get a confirmation we're not going to comment.”

Radio-canada had reported this week that Quebec public health officials would allow the race under certain conditions to ensure the risk of spreading COVID-19 was kept to a minimum, which would include no fans in the stands.

This could be the second straight year the F1 race gets cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quebec's tourism minister says a final decision has not yet been made on whether to allow the race.

Caroline Proulx said Quebec's public health department has OK'D the event, but added she is waiting for a ruling from federal public health authorities.

Montreal's public health department has concerns about holding the event at a time when coronavirus variants are present, and could lead to a worsening of the situation on the island of Montreal.

F1 officials were reported to be appealing to various levels of government to invest another $6 million to hold the Canadian GP without fans and the revenue they generate in the stands. The Canadian GP is already largely funded by government money.

It was also reported that F1 officials were asking to bypass the government's mandatory 14-day COVID-19 quarantine for people arriving in Canada. The government has allowed NHL players traded to Canadian teams from the U.S. to join their new teams after only seven days of quarantine. F1 officials were asking to bypass the quarantine for the hundreds of staff, crew members and drivers at the Canadian GP, saying they would rely on a private medical staff to keep COVID-19 from spreading.

F1 already has the Azerbaijan Grand Prix scheduled for June 6 in Baku, meaning the drivers, crew members and staff would only be arriving in Montreal the week of the Canadian GP. If the Canadian GP is officially cancelled, F1 is prepared to hold a race in Turkey on June 13 in its place.

Quebec public health director Horacio Arruda said Tuesday his team was examining all the options to allow the Canadian GP to go ahead.

Proulx said she is waiting for word from federal public health authorities.

“I understand the concern of Montreal public health about people from away,” Proulx said in an interview with Radio-canada.

“On the other hand, it's important to say Quebec public health said the bubble formula presented to them by the F1 group is satisfactory. Now there is the whole question of quarantine, which is a federal responsibility. At this hour, I am waiting for the written advisory of the federal government.”

On Thursday afternoon, Montreal's public health department told the Montreal Gazette the provincial and federal governments are responsible for deciding whether or not to cancel the race.

“Faced with the uncertainty of the variants, Montreal public health has expressed reservations about the holding of the event in early June, which may generate outbreaks and contribute to the deterioration of the fragile epidemiological situation currently in Montreal,” Eric Forest, a spokesperson for the department, said in an email.

He added that they've asked Quebec's Health Ministry to consider their concerns and to “enhance the protocols should the event take place,” citing fears surrounding gatherings between visitors and local staff and the fact that those coming from the race in Baku will not be able to quarantine.

Earlier Thursday, Quebec Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon said the Quebec government is working to ensure the sustainability of the event so it can continue until at least 2029, according to the contract in place with F1. He said holding the event this year and adhering to measures imposed by public health authorities would be very costly.

“We are very sensitive to not spending too much money when that money can go elsewhere, so we're in negotiations with the authorities of Formula One,” he said. “We want to minimize the costs, but we want to keep the Grand Prix.”

Fitzgibbon added that if the event is held without an audience, there is an additional question about whether the provincial or federal government would make it up to the event's promoters for the lost ticket revenue. He said an announcement could be made in the next day or so.

“The fundamental question is if the event is cancelled, how can we sustain the event until 2029?”

An F1 spokesperson told autosport.com: “We are continuing our discussions with the promoter in Canada and have no further comment.”

The Canadian GP has a contract with F1 to hold the event through 2029 and race promoter François Dumontier recently told RDS there was no threat to its future if the GP gets cancelled for a second straight year.

“We have a contract valid until 2029 and it is firm,” Dumontier said.

The fundamental question is if the event is cancelled, how can we sustain the event until 2029?