Formula 1 postpones Chinese GP due to Covid-19 outbreak

Formula 1’s 2020 Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed indefinitely due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The event was set to be the fourth round of the season, from April 17 to 19, but officials announced on Wednesday that it will not go ahead as scheduled.

Formula 1 and race promoter Juss Sports Group will attempt to re-schedule the grand prix later in the season, though no date has been outlined.

China has been at the epicentre of an outbreak of a strain of a coronavirus, which on Tuesday was officially named Covid-19, that has killed over 1,000 people, with 44,000 cases reported.

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Several other leading sporting events have been postponed, moved or cancelled altogether, both in Shanghai and the rest of China.

The FIA indicated at the end of January that it was monitoring the situation and was willing to take action, and Formula E’s Sanya E-Prix, initially scheduled for March 21, was called off.

China’s Shanghai International Circuit joined the Formula 1 calendar in 2004, hosted the 2005 finale, and since 2009 has featured as one of the opening ‘flyaways’ of the campaign.

It means that there will be a four-week gap in the calendar between the inaugural Vietnam Grand Prix, on April 5, and the returning Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled for May 3.

“In view of the continued spread of novel coronavirus and after ongoing discussions with the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of People’s Republic of China (CAMF) and Shanghai Administration of Sports, the Chinese Grand Prix Promoter, Juss Sports Group, has officially requested that the 2020 FIA Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix be postponed,” read a statement.

“The FIA, together with the Formula 1, have have jointly decided to accept this official request from the promoter and postpone the 2020 FIA Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, originally scheduled for 19 April.

“As a result of continued health concerns and with the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus as a global health emergency, the FIA and Formula 1 have taken these measures in order to ensure the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains of primary concern.

“The FIA and Formula 1 continue to work closely with the teams, race promoter, CAMF and the local authorities to monitor the situation as it develops. All parties will take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates for the Grand Prix later in the year should the situation improve.

“The Chinese Grand Prix has long been an important part of the F1 calendar with many passionate fans. The FIA F1 community looks forward to racing in China as soon as possible and wishes everyone in the country the best during this difficult time.”