Doubts grow for Chinese Grand Prix

THE Shanghai Sports Federation has increased the doubt surrounding April’s Chinese Grand Prix by recommending all sports events be cancelled until the coronavirus epidemic “is over”.

The latest figures from the Chinese Health Commission on Wednesday reported that approaching 25,000 people have been infected, resulting in a death toll of near 500, while 15 sports events have so far been either cancelled or postponed.

The most prominent has been the World Athletics Championships that were scheduled for Nanjing in mid-March; the Chinese Football Association has put on hold all domestic matches; while Formula E cancelled its race in Sanya that was due to take place on March 21.

The spotlight is now on the fourth event of Formula One’s record-breaking 22-race calendar this year at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 17-19.

Guidelines issued in a statement by the Shanghai Sports Federation declares that it will “strictly implement the requirement that the municipal sports bureau no longer organise events during the epidemic” and to “suspend all sports events until the epidemic is over”.

The ball is now in the court of the race promoter Juss Event Management, F1’s rights holders Liberty Media and motorsport’s world governing body, the FIA, with the latter issuing a statement last week saying it was monitoring the situation.

Although the race in Shanghai is still over nine weeks away, pressure will be mounting on all sides to make a decision, with the remarks from the Shanghai Sports Federation adding to the urgency of the matter.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office continues to advise against all but essential travel to mainland China, while a number of airlines have suspended flights to the country.

F1 was due to discuss the situation at its latest Strategy Group meeting yesterday.

While not at risk at present, it is understood concerns are growing regarding the debut race in Vietnam, which shares an 800-mile border with China.