You can now add the 2021 Australian F1 Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park to the endless list of events that have fallen victim to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, following the cancellation of the Geneva Motor Show and the recent postponement of the New York Auto Show, only to mention a few.
The decision was made after a member of the McLaren Racing team tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on Thursday night local time. According to Australia’s Sunday Morning Herald, seven more people were also tested but the results came back negative, while there’s a ninth individual who is not associated with any of the teams, FIA or suppliers, with the results for this test pending.
Read Also: McLaren Pulls Out From Australian F1 Grand Prix After Employee Diagnosed With Coronavirus
Here is the joint statement from FIA, Formula 1 and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation:
“Following the confirmation that a member of the McLaren Racing Team has tested positive for COVID-19 and the team’s decision to withdraw from the Australian Grand Prix, the FIA and Formula 1 convened a meeting of the other nine team principals on Thursday evening.”
“Those discussions concluded with a majority view of the teams that the race should not go ahead. The FIA and Formula 1, with the full support of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) have therefore taken the decision that all Formula 1 activity for the Australian Grand Prix is cancelled.”
“We appreciate this is very disappointing news for the thousands of fans due to attend the race and all ticket holders will receive a full refund and a further announcement will be communicated in due course.”
“All parties took into consideration the huge efforts of the AGPC, Motorsport Australia, staff and volunteers to stage the opening round of the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship in Melbourne, however concluded that the safety of all members of the Formula 1 family and the wider community, as well as the fairness of the competition take priority.”
Even before the official confirmation, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel and Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen had already flown home, while McLaren, following the incident with one of its team members who tested positive to the virus, had pulled out of the race.
Formula 1 and the FIA, with the full support of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC), have taken the decision that all Formula 1 activity for the Australian Grand Prix is cancelled pic.twitter.com/rHbc7hlNvH
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 12, 2020