THE F1 COVID THREAD: Will GP be cancelled?

[chillibowl]

admittedly i haven't really watched much more then a highlight/short clip of those the larger Esport tournaments and even that was years ago. i probably should give it another chance.

certainly it would take something like F1 drivers competing in it (or NBA players participating in an NBA video game tourny) to change my mind though. connect it to something i am already familiar with and then who knows right?

im open minded to it though.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Alot will depend on individual government's travel advice. If for example the UK government advice is not to travel to certain countries, then UK based teams will be unwise to go to in the event that anything should happen to one of their employees.

No doubt advice at government level to not travel to certain countries would also create problems with teams that chose to go regardless in getting insurance to cover their personnel.

[S griffin]

DTM have moved their test from Monza due to the outbreak. However F2 are still gonna have their pre season test in Bahrain

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by E.B

No doubt advice at government level to not travel to certain countries would also create problems with teams that chose to go regardless in getting insurance to cover their personnel.

I would imagine that if teams go against government advice their insurers might say you're on your own...

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[wnut]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

I would imagine that if teams go against government advice their insurers might say you're on your own...

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The cockroaches of the insurance industry are way ahead of you, apparently they don't cover pandemics, and afaik have not covered travel insurance policies submitting corona virus related claims.

[Moneyseeker]

Geneva motor show cancelled....

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[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Geneva motor show cancelled....

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Good job Dijon isn't still on the calendar then for a Swiss GP!

Could the flyaways that start the season all be cancelled and the season start at Zandvoort or something?

Surely a decision must be made fairly quickly on the opening round at least...

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Geneva motor show cancelled....

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not just the show but all gatherings, public and private, of over 1000 people.

i would think that also include workplaces like the Alfa facilities? maybe work places are exempt i dont know.

of course it is only temporary but even a week at their factory could sink what was looking to be a promising season for the Swiss squad.

[Moneyseeker]

Ferrari getting twitchy and seeking assurances from FOM.

IMO not beyond the bounds that first 3 GP's are cancelled/postponed whilst FOM
evaluates the situation.

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[chillibowl]

Remove if overly inappropriate.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Remove if overly inappropriate.

I've seen those doing the rounds on Facebook. No harm I suppose in making light of a situation

[S griffin]

Well they do say laughter is the best medicine! I’ll get my coat....

[broadrun96]

I think they're OTP enough to be humorous for now

[JHamilton]

China should be the least of your worries. I participated in the last global pandemic when my country helped hose down the world with H1N1. As soon as it makes it here, we'll do it again.

[Oldtony]

The shift in concern here in Oz is not the risks to F1 but to the possibility of F1 being the means of bringing extra cases into the country from Italy.
Could Melbourne go ahead without key Ferrari and Alfa Tauri personnel?
Lygon street could suffer the same problems as Chinatown.

[Adam43]

To make this fair, each team should have to miss a round.

[S griffin]

It's a tricky situation, I don't envy those having to make a decision

[Moneyseeker]

I think it's possible first 3 rounds could be cancelled whilst FOM re-evaluates. Bearing in mind Geneva motor show was cancelled a couple of days before the show, so could be a lateish call .

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[bella]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

I think it's possible first 3 rounds could be cancelled whilst FOM re-evaluates. Bearing in mind Geneva motor show was cancelled a couple of days before the show, so could be a lateish call .

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i hope not. decisions need to be made in advance and in proportion. and this needs to not be a pattern established by f1 - most of non-f1 motorsport is run by day rate casual staff, and if events get cancelled they don't get paid...

to make that f1 relevant that's casual staff working at the circuits who are relying on the cash for whatever reason. or maybe catering suppliers who may only get a percentage of the money they're owed from event insurance, if at all, particularly if it's "rescheduled".

[Peter Mallett]

I agree with bella, there should be a bit more forethought. But this is impacting worldwide commerce. Just look at Singapore where the harbours and sea approaches are filled with moored ships. No cargo means no work for the crews who, like Bella's race personnel, will not be paid.

That will have a knock on to F1 as a whole because sponsors and probably governments who fund the events will be keeping their money in their pockets.

[S griffin]

I do agree with the above. Of course every precaution has to be taken, but at the same time it would be wrong to cancel it just like that. The organisers and the FIA are between a rock and a hard place, but unless the situation becomes really serious, I am sure the first race will go ahead as planned

[broadrun96]

Pending any decisions from Australia to quarantine or just block Italians or Italian travelers from entry any time soon. That decision could have wider implications about the season as a whole. Could get in to if non-points races cost the same as points races, do the organizers have to pay the same fees? Would people attend a non-points event at the same rate, would tickets to be discounted because it's not part of the championship?

And then if things are to be cancelled it gets dicier. Who has the responsibility of cancelling? What clauses are in the contracts regarding cancellation conditions, would FOM play chicken and make the hosts cancel to still demand payment? Are they dumb enough to try that, Liberty Media has a history of that.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Would people attend a non-points event at the same rate, would tickets to be discounted because it's not part of the championship?

Perhaps more to the point is what if the governments ban gatherings of over X,000 people, or deem events no longer open for the public. Was it a marathon in Tokyo today run through empty streets as it was ruled to be no public attendance?
Also a field of usually 30,000 runners was trimmed down to just 200 'elite' runners allowed to start. As the elite runners lined up to start, spectators were told to stay home and watch on television or online. Signs along the route said the same.

Edit: Found the news article about the story, along with pics.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/tokyo...ic-games-virus

I wonder how many people are anyway cancelling plans to go to say the AGP, Vietnam or Bahrain due to the virus infection risk, regardless of any government rulings. I have friends who go to the footy every week come rain hail or shine..... they stayed at home this weekend 'just in case'.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Pending any decisions from Australia to quarantine or just block Italians or Italian travelers from entry any time soon. That decision could have wider implications about the season as a whole. Could get in to if non-points races cost the same as points races, do the organizers have to pay the same fees? Would people attend a non-points event at the same rate, would tickets to be discounted because it's not part of the championship?

And then if things are to be cancelled it gets dicier. Who has the responsibility of cancelling? What clauses are in the contracts regarding cancellation conditions, would FOM play chicken and make the hosts cancel to still demand payment? Are they dumb enough to try that, Liberty Media has a history of that.

Why just Italians? There are outbreaks in the USA, UK, and other places. You can't restrict one nationality since there are many ways to travel and as far as I know Italians aren't banned from traveling.

[chillibowl]

The situation is escalating daily as are each nation's responses.

i can't think of a past event that required the involvement of so many governments, services, industries businesses etc

A truly global action and one where everyone is trying to figure it out as they go along. It highlights the need for a stronger supranational organizing body that has real control to allocate resources, limit travel, and cancel events etc

Anyways, im sure they will do better for the next virus.

Also as billions were spent on these cars...maybe they should be considering postponement of the entire season rather then the piecemeal cancelling of certain races.