FIA MONITORING COVID-19

FIA monitoring COVID-19 – Photo: Suttons

The FIA is closely monitoring the worldwide Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis.

By DAN KNUTSON

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council, hosted by FIA President Jean Todt and FIA Deputy President for Sport Graham Stoker, met in Geneva on March 6 for its first meeting of the year.

Professor Gérard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission, gave a detailed presentation on the development of the COVID-19 outbreak.

An FIA Crisis Cell has been established and convenes every second day to consider the latest developments around the world. The FIA continues to closely monitor the situation and its implications, together with its member clubs and promoters, and follows the advice of relevant authorities including governments and the World Health Organisation. The FIA will evaluate the calendar of its forthcoming competitions and take any action required to help protect the global motorsport community and the wider public, including the postponement of competitions where necessary.

Regarding Formula 1, so far only the Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for April 19 has been postponed. The season opener in Australia on March 15 will go ahead as planned. So too will the races in Bahrain on March 22 and Vietnam on April 5. Ticket sales for Bahrain, however, have been suspended while officials monitor the situation.

There have been no indications that the first races in Europe – the Netherlands on May 3, Spain on May 10 and Monaco on May 24 – will be cancelled or postponed.

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