Australian Grand Prix to be called off in coronavirus outbreak

The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is set to be cancelled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus after a McLaren team member was diagnosed with the illness.

The McLaren team member, plus four Haas team crew, two contract workers and one individual not connected to F1 teams, were all put into self-isolation suffering with symptoms of COVID-19 amid the ongoing pandemic.

On Thursday evening following medical tests, McLaren confirmed its team member has tested positive for the coronavirus and the Woking-based team has duly withdrawn from the 2020 F1 opener in Australia. The eight other individuals tested gave negative results for coronavirus.

But with the illness threatening to spread within the paddock and teams, according to paddock sources F1 has called off the Australian Grand Prix this weekend less than 12 hours before the first practice session was scheduled to start.

Following pre-season testing in Spain when concerns over F1’s plans first arose, F1 motorsport boss Ross Brawn stated a world championship race would not take place without all 10 teams if one or more teams were unable to compete due to travel restrictions amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“Obviously if a team makes its own choice not to go to a race, that's their decision,” Brawn said earlier this month. “But where a team is prevented from going to a race because of a decision of the country then it's difficult to have a fair competition.”

McLaren’s action to withdraw from the race duly posed a dilemma for F1 organisers but with fears the coronavirus could spread further in the paddock, and amongst spectators who are allowed to attend the race, the sport has been given no option but to take action.

During the build-up this weekend, F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton slammed the sport, saying that he was shocked the Australian GP was still going ahead without changes.

“I am very, very surprised we are here,” Hamilton said during the FIA press conference on Thursday, as he hinted economic reasons and that “cash is king” prevented earlier action.

“It is great we have races but for me it is shocking that we are all sitting in this room.

“It seems like the rest of the world is reacting, probably a bit late. The NBA has been suspended yet F1 continues to go on.”