Sports
Coronavirus Australian Grand Prix called off
Australian Grand Prix
(Source: © 2003-2020 Formula One World Championship)
www.formula1.com/
(Source: © 2003-2020 Formula One World Championship)
(Source: © 2003-2020 Formula One World Championship)
The Australian Grand Prix has been called off after teams and drivers forced the hand of Formula 1's bosses.
This weekend´s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne has been cancelled. The news follows McLaren´s withdrawal from the race on Thursday, after one of their team members tested positive for the coronavirus.
A statement issued jointly by F1, governing body the FIA and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation read: "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, Formula 1 and the FIA 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.
"Formula 1 and the FIA, 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 are 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."
"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."
more information: https://www.formula1.com/
Formula One Lia F1 Formula 1 Grand Prix Motor Racing Sports Sport Abu Dhabi Auto Racing Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Sebastian Vettel Max Verstappen Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Charles Leclerc Valtteri Bottas Marina Daniel Ricciardo Kimi R Ferrari
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