The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is off for 2020.
A joint statement on Friday morning in Melbourne from the FIA, Formula 1 and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation confirmed the rumors overnight that the race will not go ahead after a member of the McLaren Racing Team tested positive for COVID-19 and the team’s then decision to withdraw from the Australian Grand Prix.
The teams met on Thursday night and voted whether to race or not. Mercedes, Red Bull, AlphaTauri, Racing Point and Alfa Romeo voted to go ahead, while Ferrari, Renault and McLaren voted not to. Williams and Haas F1 (team principal Guenther Steiner pictured above) abstained. However, after the initial vote, Mercedes and Racing Point changed their position after discussions with headquarters and thus the vote went from 5-3 to 4-5 because, we believe, Mercedes instructed its customer teams to vote against racing.
The statement said that there was “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) therefore accepted the decision that all Formula 1 activity for the Australian Grand Prix be cancelled.” The statement said that fans would be fully refunded.
Mercedes said that the team sent a letter to the FIA and Formula 1 requesting the cancellation.
“We share the disappointment of the sport’s fans that this race cannot go ahead as planned. However, the physical and mental health and well-being of our team members and of the wider F1 community are our absolute priority,” Mercedes said in a team statement. “In light of the force majeure events we are experiencing with regards to the coronavirus pandemic, we no longer feel the safety of our employees can be guaranteed if we continue to take part in the event.
“We empathize strongly with the worsening situation in Europe, most especially in Italy, and furthermore we do not feel it would be right to participate in an event where fellow competitors such as McLaren are unable to do so through circumstances beyond their control. “
It remains to be seen if the F1 Bahrain (April 22) can go ahead, but the word is that Vietnam (set for May 5) has already been cancelled.
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