Will GP be cancelled?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Will the Chinese GP be cancelled?

With the outbreak of the coronavirus, the outcome of this year's Chinese Grand Prix will be discussed at a meeting of the Strategy Group, on Wednesday.

https://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/148118

[Greem]

The Sanya E-Prix has already been cancelled; right now I reckon the F1 GP is 50/50.

[Richard Casto]

If I was to put money on it, I would say yes, it will be canceled. It's not far out and I assume the longer they delay on a decision, the more trouble it will be to adjust.

Richard

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

If I was to put money on it, I would say yes, it will be canceled. It's not far out and I assume the longer they delay on a decision, the more trouble it will be to adjust.

Richard

Yep I concur...

Is it too late to get a short notice deal with Sepang or another Asian continent venue instead?

[E.B]

With no proven vaccines available for the virus, before mid-year at the earliest, it would strike me as a pointless exercise to even consider running the event on the scheduled date in mid April. What team is going to risk their key staff? What spectators will even want to go, and then there is the matter of most international flights to the area cancelled currently making access at best difficult.

Its best chance would be to exchange race weekends with another venue scheduled later in the year.

[S griffin]

We have had precedent for this. The 1967 RAC Rally was cancelled due to foot and mouth and so was the 2001 IOM TT and BRC for the same reason. Also the A1GP trip to Mexico in 2009 was cancelled due to the swine flu outbreak

There is a fair chance that this race will not go ahead. Unless things have improved come April, it’s not worth the risk IMHO. The fact the Chinese EPrix has been postponed shows this is a decision that can’t be taken lightly. If it’s not safe by April, I can see it being cancelled. In a congested calendar, where are they going to fit in a new date?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

We have had precedent for this. The 1967 RAC Rally was cancelled due to foot and mouth and so was the 2001 IOM TT and BRC for the same reason. Also the A1GP trip to Mexico in 2009 was cancelled due to the swine flu outbreak

The A1 GP cancellation is a reasonable comparison, but I would not consider the 1967 RAC Rally, or 2001 IOM TT is setting precedent per se.
They were cancelled to prevent the disease being transmitted, as opposed to protecting the competitors, teams and spectators from catching the illness.
It's a subtle difference, but one that should be remembered when we consider these types of situations.

[Richard Casto]

Additionally, if they are discussing it tomorrow, I think they have two options.

1. Cancel (with potential for reschedule if that can be done, but details at later date.)
2. Continue to monitor the situation (kick the can down the road).

Note there can't be a firm "it will happen on the scheduled date" with no further discussion. There is no way they can commit in a positive way given the situation.

Richard

[smithhehehaha]

I prefer to cancel the race. I think visitors may not regain their trust to visit China within 2 months even the pandemic can be under controlled right now.

[chillibowl]

could the quarantine affect cargo?

air cargo flights canceled, staff shortages, workers quarantined etc...on top of everything else, i imagine there is a supply chain nightmare going on.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

could the quarantine affect cargo?

air cargo flights canceled, staff shortages, workers quarantined etc...on top of everything else, i imagine there is a supply chain nightmare going on.

Presumably all the race personnel run the risk of having to be quarantined after visiting somewhere not that far from Wuhan. And then as mentioned the cargo.
Wuhan, the epicentre of the pandemic, is less than a 4 hour train ride from Shanghai.
Less than two weeks after China teams will be setting up at Zandvoort.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by E.B

Presumably all the race personnel run the risk of having to be quarantined after visiting somewhere not that far from Wuhan. And then as mentioned the cargo.
Wuhan, the epicentre of the pandemic, is less than a 4 hour train ride from Shanghai.
Less than two weeks after China teams will be setting up at Zandvoort.

I read recently that the virus has spread to every Chinese region.

https://www.businessinsider.com/wuha...20-1?r=US&IR=T

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by E.B

Presumably all the race personnel run the risk of having to be quarantined after visiting somewhere not that far from Wuhan....

i hadnt thought of that.

[Richard Casto]

Originally Posted by E.B

Presumably all the race personnel run the risk of having to be quarantined after visiting somewhere not that far from Wuhan. And then as mentioned the cargo.
Wuhan, the epicentre of the pandemic, is less than a 4 hour train ride from Shanghai.
Less than two weeks after China teams will be setting up at Zandvoort.

Have the Chinese race and then cancel the rest of the season!

So difficulties getting out after the race, but the Vietnamese race is just prior. I believe Vietnam has closed all flights to/from China?

All joking aside, I hope the containment efforts work and that the outbreak burns itself out quickly.

Richard

[chunterer]

As Zandvoort is the round after China how about getting back to.Europe early for a 'European GP' at Donington?!

Oh god I hadn't realised how ironic that would be and a highly unlikely event title for a UK race..