AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX CANCELLED

Most teams are packing up after confirmation the season opening Grand Prix is cancelled. Image: LAT

The Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled amid the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic.

By HEATH McALPINE

Confirmed by the FIA and Australian Grand Prix Corporation this morning, the event was planned to go ahead as normal, but the track schedule this morning was postponed.

The announcement confirms reports this morning after a McLaren team member tested positive for the disease forcing the squad to withdraw from the event.

It has since been announced Mercedes had followed suit with the FIA confirming through a statement that the Formula 1 event was canned.

The statement 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, the FIA and Formula 1 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. The FIA and Formula 1, 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 is 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.

A statement from the Australian Grand Prix Corporation confirmed that the event as a whole is cancelled can be viewed below:

At 9am today the Australian Grand Prix Corporation was advised by Formula 1 of their intention to cancel all Formula 1 activity at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

In light of this decision and updated advice this morning from the Chief Health Officer of the Victorian Government’s Department of Human and Health Services, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation confirms the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is cancelled immediately.

Last night a member of the McLaren Racing team tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. A further seven individuals returned negative results, confirming that they do not have the COVID-19 virus.

Additionally, a ninth individual has been assessed and tested for the COVID-19 virus, with the results of this test pending. This individual is not associated with any Formula 1 team, the FIA or associated suppliers.

Our first priority is the safety of everyone including attendees, our personnel, all event partners and members of the local community.

Further information regarding refunds for ticket holders will be communicated in due course.

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