TURKISH GRAND PRIX UNDER FAN LOCKOUT

THE Formula One Turkish Grand Prix on November 15 will take place without fans after Istabul authorities decided on Monday the public will not be allowed in as the country tries to control the spread of the coronavirus.

“Within the scope of efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and in accordance with the recommendation of the Istanbul Provincial Pandemic Committee, the F1 Turkish Grand Prix will be held without spectators,” a statement said.

Race organisers were hoping to host up to 100 000 fans, with more than 40 000 tickets sold within the first hours of sales. Formula One recently started to allow spectators back to tracks with around 3 000 fans at the Tuscany Grand Prix in Mugello on September 13 and 30 000 each day of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi from September 25-27.

Haas driver Romain Grosjean said he did not feel safe in Sochi, as this was the first race of the 2020 season to host a sizeable fan presence.

“In Russia wearing a mask isn’t mandatory. Waiters do, but don’t cover their noses,” Grosjean said.

“There are many fans at the hotel, so sometimes we find ourselves sharing the elevator with people outside of the F1 bubble. That’s not something I’m comfortable with. I’m not happy with the safety measures implemented at the hotel.”

During the Russian Grand Prix week Formula One registered the biggest number of infections so far this year: 10 of the 1 822 tests returned positive.

All of the positive tests were from “ancillary personnel”.

■ For the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring, Formula One hopes to host up to 20 000 fans on Sunday.