The corona virus is spreading rapidly in China. Formula 1 will therefore probably avoid the country - which has consequences for at least one planned race.
- Several hundred people have already fallen victim to the coronavirus * in China .
- Formula One has decided against holding the Chinese Grand Prix in April, according to the British media.
- Another race could also fall victim to the epidemic.
Update from February 12: The Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled for the third weekend in April (April 17 to 19), is falling victim to the corona virus, reports from the British media. Accordingly, after a long test, Formula 1 had decided against holding the race in Shanghai on this date.
It is still unclear whether the race planned as the fourth race of the season will be completely canceled or postponed to a later date . There is hardly any room for this in the tightly packed calendar with actually 22 races.
There are still doubts about the premiere of the Grand Prix in Vietnam . The Hanoi venue is only around 150 kilometers from the Chinese border. The World Motorsport Federation ( FIA) had announced that it would evaluate the staging of the races and take "any necessary action, if necessary," to help protect the global motorsport community and the general public.
It was only on the day of the reports that Ferrari, the first of the ten teams, presented the new racing car for the season.
Corona virus: Formula 1 races in China threatened by cancellation
First report from February 6: Shanghai - The fear of the immediate corona virus from China has now reached motorsport , more precisely Formula 1 . The bosses of the most important racing series in the world probably advised on Tuesday how to proceed with the Chinese Grand Prix , which is to take place in Shanghai on the weekend of April 19. The British Daily Mail reports.
Accordingly, there is also a postponement, even a cancellation of the race in the room. A final decision was not yet made, but there is in F1 Bearings some voices that have expressed their discomfort if a trip to China.
Coronavirus: The Vietnam Grand Prix is also at risk
The decision is to be made by the FIA , the umbrella organization of Formula 1, citing local authorities in China and the organizers. The Shanghai Sports General Association , which controls local sports in Shanghai , has already advised sports organizations to postpone events until there is no longer any danger from the epidemic.
BREAKING: Session and race start times for the 2020 F1 season - including the Vietnam Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix ️ ⏰ # F1 https://t.co/9WauJL5Yuu
- Formula 1 (@ F1) January 10, 2020To what extent the Chinese Grand Prix can be postponed is still unclear. After all, a racing calendar spanning 22 weekends doesn't offer much scope. The Vietnam Grand Prix , to be held for the first time two weeks earlier, could also fall victim to the Coronavirus *. This possibility was downplayed by the F1 owner company Liberty Media .
It wasn't until the end of January that there was great news from Formula One. From 2021, there will be a new factory team and a comprehensive regulatory reform.
Coronavirus: the number of dead and infected continues to rise
There are currently over 25,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in China * , and over 500 people have already died. Particularly worrying: the numbers are rising faster again, the World Health Organization is already raising the alarm. Two other cases in Bavaria were confirmed at the weekend.
The boss of the Dutch beer group Heineken recently also commented on the possible effects of the corona virus.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
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