F1 paymasters anxious to plot new date for Monaco

FORMULA ONE bosses are in discussions with the Monaco authorities in an attempt to save its showpiece grand prix from falling victim to the coronavirus pandemic.

While the travelling circus caught flights home from Melbourne after today’s planned opener was called off, the FIA and the sport’s owners

Liberty Media are trying to plot a new timetable to salvage the season.

As of now, Liberty are officially intending to go racing again at the end of May, meaning Monaco may yet kick off the season on May 24.

But there is no assurance that the threat of illness will have abated by then and paddock insiders believe that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on June 7 is a more realistic first race.

Monaco is further hampered by its reliance on temporary infrastructure and the manpower required for the task coming from France and Italy, the European country most deeply affected by the disease.

But The Mail on Sunday understands that even if Monaco is not ready for the end of May, Liberty want it to go ahead at a later date because of the prestige it brings to the series.