THE F1 COVID THREAD: Will GP be cancelled?

[S griffin]

It does make you wonder if having a double header in Austria is really practical

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Once he teams and cars are in country run as many as you can. The problem is getting into countries without quarantine, and then additional parts and logistics

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Once he teams and cars are in country run as many as you can. The problem is getting into countries without quarantine, and then additional parts and logistics

Not to mention the need to quarantine at home (for amber countries) for ten days upon return.

[chillibowl]

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve being used as a walk in/bike in/drive in vaccination site.

Apparently its like a pit stop.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/beta.ct...1_5448096.html

[steve_r]

OK - So Singapore cancelled now, according to the BBC at least.

Replacement event to be advised. "Turkey, China and a second race at Austin in the USA are all under consideration as replacements."

[E.B]

Originally Posted by steve_r

OK - So Singapore cancelled now, according to the BBC at least.

Replacement event to be advised. "Turkey, China and a second race at Austin in the USA are all under consideration as replacements."

Mark Hughes at Motorsport is thinking more like 5 will go...

....Singapore, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Australia must all have question marks against them to a greater or lesser extent, either because of how extreme their governments are in clamping down on any opportunity for the virus to spread (Singapore, Australia) or in how rampant it already is and therefore the wisdom of exposing F1 to the risk (Mexico, Brazil) or to the local public’s attitude towards thousands of foreigners arriving when they are still in the early stages of trying to control the virus (Japan). That’s five races in seven weekends which may potentially need to be replaced in that late stage of the season.....

Rest of the article here: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...-it-favour-mph

[Mike Harte]

Autosport also confirming that Singapore is a no go.

[crmalcolm]

2 people thought Singapore would be the first 2020 GP - how many thought it wouldn't happen in 2021?

[GT6]

Well lets see if they put another race on or just accept 1 race less this year.

[S griffin]

It’s fine if they replace it with Turkey or China, but I hope there won’t be another duplicate race

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by E.B

Mark Hughes at Motorsport is thinking more like 5 will go...
Rest of the article here: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...-it-favour-mph

You have to think those 5 are a definite cancel without having the announcement yet. Reading the Olympics stuff is scary how disconnected the athletes and Olympic management is from the locals, supposedly 10k volunteers cancelled and host areas are not allowing visitors so people will have no place to stay. If Japan doesn't want the Olympics it would look bad to then allow the F1 race, YES YES, massively different scales on people but one of the main reasons for cancelling the Olympics applies here too, hospitals are slammed and refusing patients.

Mexico and Australia I think have governments willing to take this one on themselves and admit they shouldn't be hosting, Singapore already has. Brazil, well that's a whole other mess that makes me feel like others must have with The Great Pumpkin in charge. Feels like the government would be willing to sacrifice too many to pretend all is well and F1 may have to pull the plug on that one themselves.


Feels like we'll end up with either dropped races, not at all what LM want, or a few more doubleheaders. Feels like Austin will become a double. Racer reports that Indy management and FOM have not spoken but believe me, Roger would get it done if needed and paid enough. He doesn't pay for anything with his own money, that won't turn a profit, if he can avoid it.

[chavez]

September deadline for Melbourne.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/moto...06-p57yj0.html

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by chavez

September deadline for Melbourne.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/moto...06-p57yj0.html

That’s probably the most sensible decision atm. Gives them time in case anything changes and means if they do call it off, it won’t be too early or too late

[Casper]

From another masthead owned by the same company
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsp....html#comments

Reading the comments I would say the government would not be game to allow November to go ahead as they would be lynched at the next election.

[Jack65]

While the official line is that a decision is still to be made in September, as the article below states, there is no chance of Australia relaxing its 14 day isolation policy before November, so the Australian GP isn't going to happen. Would be best to knock it on the head now.

Why Australian Grand Prix can't happen

[chavez]

Originally Posted by Jack65

While the official line is that a decision is still to be made in September, as the article below states, there is no chance of Australia relaxing its 14 day isolation policy before November, so the Australian GP isn't going to happen. Would be best to knock it on the head now.

Why Australian Grand Prix can't happen

That has generally been the thoughts of most people posting on this thread.

I am doubtful about March 2022.

[chunterer]

If Turkey is restriction free, or accomodating at lest then it looks likely to slot in somewhere a bit later on.

If a 2nd Austin CotA race doesn't get comfirmed then there could well be Sepang, and Losail getting a race in the Asian end of the season instead of Brazil and Mexico?

[S griffin]

I certainly hope it's a different circuit like Turkey or Sepang, rather than another duplicate race

[hondafan37]

Mugello replaces Singapore?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP3JQBQqP-O/

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

Mugello replaces Singapore?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP3JQBQqP-O/

Well that'll be bloody good news if it is accurate - really happy if F1 goes back there, simply magnificent track.

[S griffin]

Would so love to see Mugello back. Proper driver's circuit and last year proved it deserves to be on the calendar

[chillibowl]

so that would be:

Belgium Aug 29th
Netherlands Sept 5
Italy on the sept 12th
a week break
Russia on the 26th
back to Italy for Oct 3rd (as the possible Sing replacement)
then Japan the following week on the 10th
a week off (potential addition of another race at COTA)
the existing USGP for the 24th
Mexico for the 31st
Brazil the following week on Nov 7th
2 week break
OZ on the 21 (a longer break if it doesnt happen)
SA Dec 5th
Abu Dhabi on Dec 12th

thats a lot of races and crisscross travel in 3 mos with a possibility that there may be a month off before the Middle East races???

maybe they should be fine with some cancelled races?

[broadrun96]

I can't seen Japan happening without some concessions there as well given the Olympics situation and anger. I haven't seen much lately but the cries for cancel were loud and angry a couple weeks ago from hosts and hospitals. Plus Japan, then US, Mexico, Brazil within the span of 4 weeks sounds tough. Of those I think only the US round (or 2) is secure, Texas doesn't have a single thing closed and federal government has pretty much forgotten what they were doing. And having 3 people say three different things about travel so no one has a clue but planes keep moving.

[chillibowl]

yeah, sadly the Olympics could be a major health disaster.

[E.B]

Im not that confident about Brazil. Would it be seen as irresponsible of F1 to drag its personnel, bubbled or not, through what is not the safest part of the world Covid wise, and one that seems to not have a Covid responsible outlook. We in Australia certainly would not allow any F1 bubble to exist here knowing said bubble had previously very recently been to Brazil.
(F1 being granted a fly in fly out Covid bubble is the only realistic way we will see a GP in Aus this year given the the race day is just 14 days on from the Brazilian race day. The current law regarding all visitors to Aus to quarantine for 14 days on arrival regardless of vaccine status or anything else