F1 postpones Bahrain and Vietn

Image via @F1

F1 postpones Bahrain and Vietnam GPs, plans ‘end’ May start

F1 has avoided the shambles at that the Australian GP by taking a decisive and early decision to postpone both the Bahrain and Vietnam races.

F1 postpones Bahrain and Vietn

Image via @F1

The 2020 Formula 1 season could only begin at the “end of May” with the Monaco Grand Prix with both the Bahrain and Vietnam races were postponed while there are doubts that the sport will head to the Netherlands or Spain.

No official decision has yet been made regarding the latter two.

F1 officially postponed Bahrain and Vietnam

Ridiculed by fans and the media for being indecisive in Melbourne even after a paddock member tested positive for the coronavirus, Formula 1 made an early call on the Bahrain and Vietnam races, postponing both.

The 2,000-strong Formula 1 was scheduled to leave Melbourne early Monday to wing its way over to Bahrain for round two of the championship.

That is now off the cards, and so too is Vietnam which would have been round three.

“In view of the continued global spread of COVID-19 and after ongoing discussions with the FIA, the Bahrain International Circuit, the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Hanoi People’s Committee, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Automobile Association of Vietnam and the promoter, Vietnam Grand Prix Corporation, a decision has been taken by all parties to postpone both races due to take place on the 20th – 22nd March and 3rd – 5th April respectively,” read the statement.

“Following the announcement of the Australian Grand Prix’s cancellation this week and the ongoing and fluid nature of the COVID-19 situation globally, Formula 1, the FIA and the promoters have taken these decisions in order to ensure the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains our primary concern.”

FIA president Jean Todt, who wasn’t present in Melbourne as F1 bosses stumbled over whether to cancel or not cancel the Australian GP, has backed the decision to delay the start of the F1 season.

“Protecting people first. Together with Formula 1, the Bahrain Motor Federation, the Vietnamese Motorsports Association, and the local promoters, postponing both the Bahrain and Vietnam Grands Prix, as with the Australian Grand Prix, was the only possible decision given all of the information currently available to us,” he said.

“We continue to rely on the input and advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and governments and will work with them throughout this unpredictable period to safeguard the fans, competitors and all of the motor sport community.”

Formula 1 expects to begin ‘end of May’

Fans may now have to wait until May 24 to see Formula 1 cars line up on the first grid of the season.

The sport’s bosses reckon a two-month plus wait is the best decision for the sport as the world struggles to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

As such Monaco is being targetted as the first grand prix of the season.

The race, the jewel in F1’s glittering money-making crown, runs from 21-24 May.

An F1 statement read: “Formula 1 and the FIA continue to work closely with the race promoters in Bahrain and Vietnam and the local health authorities to monitor the situation and take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates for each Grand Prix later in the year should the situation improve.

“As a result, Formula 1 and the FIA expect to begin the Championship in Europe at the end of May but given the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Europe in recent days, this will be regularly reviewed.”

But what about the Dutch and Spanish GPs?

While Formula 1’s statement said it expects “to begin the Championship in Europe at the end of May”, nothing was said about either the Dutch or Spanish races.

The Dutch GP, returning to Zandvoort this season, is down to be run on May 3 with the Spanish event taking place a week later.

Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers told GPBlog that he reckons the “end of May” part of the statement was perhaps a typo as no decision has been made about their race.

“At the moment it is still difficult to say much about it because conflicting messages are still being released,” he said.

“I don’t know what the reason is, it will be miscommunication or a typo.

“When there is clarity about the statement, we have something we can talk about.

“At the moment there is no clarity yet because FIA and FOM contradict each other in their reporting.

“Only when that is clear can we say more and provide more information. We are also full of questions ourselves.”

As for the Spanish GP, Barcelona officials are in no rush to make a decision just yet.

“Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will continue monitoring the evolution of the pandemic, staying in permanent contact with the different bodies and health authorities in order to continue implementing the applicable measures and recommendations, ensuring the health and safety of our visitors,” read a statement.

“We are sorry for the inconveniences that these changes may have caused and we offer our apologies to all fans and customers that have been affected by these extraordinary measures.”