Posted on 08/05/2009 7:57:45 PM PDT by Chode
This will be a general purpose thread for F1 news and pings that really don't require a thread of their own.
i’m almost there
But the FIA could not Prove a violation of the rules. Thus the mess. The FIA was out lawyered.....
Australian F1 Grand Prix in Jeopardy as McLaren Pulls Out Over Positive Coronavirus Test
With teams already in Melbourne for this weekend's race, F1 is yet to announce if the show will go on.
Despite taking measures to prevent teams' exposure to Coronavirus by delaying the Chinese Grand Prix, threatening the same in Vietnam, and running in Bahrain without spectators, Formula 1 has failed to avoid infection. Thursday morning, McLaren Racing announced that one of its team members in Australia had tested positive for COVID-19 and that the team will not compete in this weekend's Grand Prix.
"McLaren Racing has confirmed this evening in Melbourne that it has withdrawn from the 2020 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, following the positive test of a team member for the Coronavirus. The team member was tested and self-isolated as soon as they started to show symptoms and will now be treated by local healthcare authorities," said a statement issued by the racing outfit. "The team has prepared for this eventuality and has ongoing support in place for its employee who will now enter a period of quarantine. The team is cooperating with the relevant local authorities to assist their investigations and analysis."
McLaren isn't the only team that may be forced to sit out this weekend's race, either. According to Racer, Haas team principal Günther Steiner confirmed four team members—three mechanics and one engineer—have submitted themselves for testing after displaying cold-like symptoms, which can be early signs of COVID-19 exposure. While Steiner hopes the tests come back negative, allowing the team to race this weekend, the Chief Health Officer for Victoria, Australia hinted to a Melbourne radio station that positive test results could have disastrous implications for F1's planned race weekend.
"I'm aware that there is crew who are unwell and in isolation who have tests pending," said Dr. Brett Sutton on SEN 1116. "It will depend on those tests. If they are all negative, if everyone else who has got symptoms is negative and they haven't exposed other crew, then I can see that they can carry on."
"But if there are positive crew and they've exposed to a number of others, then all of those contacts need to be in quarantine, and so it will be a question of whether they've got the operational staff to continue. I've spoken to my team about getting those tests results as soon as possible, and it's really all contingent on that. If there are positive tests then I will be directly involved with the CEO, with the organizers, about what next steps need to be taken and what the implications are."
Previously, F1 announced that it would cancel any Grand Prix races if a team was unable to travel due to COVID-19. That said, most everyone is already in Melbourne for this weekend's race at Albert Park so there's now a waiting game to hear the series' official decision on the matter.
damn...
UPDATE 8:02 P.M. ET: Formula 1 and the FIA have officially canceled the Australian Grand Prix. All tickets will be refunded.
In a statement:
“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, Formula 1 and the FIA 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.
“Formula 1 and the FIA, 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 are 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.”
The coronavirus pandemic’s effect on the world of motorsport is showing no signs of slowing down as we are now learning that the Formula 1’s season-opening Grand Prix in Australia scheduled for this weekend is all but confirmed to be canceled. As of this writing, no official announcement has been made by Formula 1 or the FIA but BBC Sport, Sky Sports, and other major outlets are citing two “senior Formula 1 sources” in saying the race in Melbourne will not go forward. An official statement is expected soon.
The news comes after one McLaren team member tested positive for COVID-19, causing the Woking-based racing team to officially withdraw from the Australia event. In response, F1 and the FIA took to Twitter to say they have been “coordinating with all the relevant authorities on the next steps” and that their “priority is the safety of the fans, the teams, and all personnel at the race.” The organization has previously said that it would cancel any races if any one team is unable to travel there due to coronavirus.
From the report, F1 and FIA officials came away from a Thursday night meeting agreeing to continue with Friday practice but by 2 a.m. local time, the race was understood to be canceled after several “insiders” including a number of drivers expressed concerns.
If you’re shaking your head at the racing series for not officially canceling the race sooner, you’re not alone. When asked in a Thursday press conference whether he was satisfied with how F1 has handled the coronavirus situation thus far, defending world champion Lewis Hamilton responded, “I am really very, very surprised that we’re here. I think motorsport is…I think it’s great that we have races but for me, it’s shocking that we’re all sitting in this room...Some people, as I walked into the paddock, some elderly individuals. It’s a concern, I think, for the people here. It’s quite a big circus that’s come here. So it’s definitely concerning for me. So, no, is your answer.”
When pressed as to why exactly the race, officially at least, still appears to be happening, Lewis said, “Cash is king. Honestly, I don’t know. I can’t really add much more to it. I don’t feel like I should shy away from the fact of my opinion. The fact is we are here and I just urge everyone to be as careful as you can be.”
F1’s next race in Bahrain has already banned live spectators, making it the first F1 race in history to be held without a real audience—assuming it continues to go forward at all—while the Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed.
The Drive will continue to monitor the situation and update this story if or when the FIA issues an official statement or anything changes.
Didn’t see this post, but I sent FRMail after getting a note from F1.com
Good wishes to the infected McClaren team mate, hope he recovers well.
That said...
I was really, really looking forward to the F1 season (except for china, if they don't happen to return to the sport, I'm okay with that).
Hopefully, the remainder of the sched will proceed.
.
F1 just sucks these days.
They should cancel the season. It was going to be a zombie season anyway with the changes coming next year. Allow unlimited testing this year on the 2021 cars.
interesting times...….
F1
LIVE: 2020 ‘Not the Bahrain Grand Prix’
F1 announced this week (after your post) that this year's cars will be used in 2021, and the new regulations will take effect for teh 2022 season.
FIA announce new F1 regulations to be delayed until 2022F1, the FIA and all 10 teams have unanimously agreed to delay the introduction of the 2021 technical regulations by a year to 2022…
The stakeholders held a conference call on Thursday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts on the sport.
They decided that the best course of action was to delay the introduction of the technical rules until 2022, with the 2020 rules applying into 2021.
It is hoped that this will ease the financial burden on the teams, particularly at a time when their income may be reduced because of fewer races this year.
“All parties further discussed the current situation of the 2020 championship and how the sport will react to the ongoing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the FIA in a statement.
“Due to the currently volatile financial situation this has created, it has been agreed that teams will use their 2020 chassis for 2021, with the potential freezing of further components to be discussed in due course.
“The introduction and implementation of the financial regulations will go ahead as planned in 2021, and discussions remain ongoing between the FIA, Formula 1 and all teams regarding further ways to make significant cost savings.
“All teams expressed their support for the FIA and Formula 1 in their ongoing efforts to restructure the 2020 calendar as the global situation regarding COVID-19 develops.
“All of these commitments will be referred to the relevant governing structures for final ratification.”
courtesy of Yo Yo
UP!
tks YO YO
the Circus LIVES!!!
Indeed!
Thank You.
They replayed the NASCAR 1988 Richmond Cup Race and Sonoma 2016 today.
I wish they would go back to the old cars...
at the Glen...
Sage is kind of a throwback guy in the real world, not as corporate as most these days. He’s wrecked a lot of cars and that hasn’t helped his ability to get a full time ride.
They canceled the Long Beach Grand Prix which we go to and spend the weekend at every year.
Really sad as its the only event that’s close by to us, Other than nascar at Fontana, Which I’m not really into.
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