Chinese Grand Prix Postponed Due To Coronavirus Crisis

Formula One has announced that it will postpone the Chinese Grand Prix due to the growing coronavirus crisis. Scheduled for April 19, the Shanghai event will not go as planned, as race promoter Juss Sports Group requested the race be postponed. The request was accepted by Formula 1.

“Amid continued health concerns and with the World Health Organization declaring the coronavirus as a global heath emergency, Formula 1, together with governing body the FIA, jointly decided to accept the postponement request in order to ensure the health and safety of the traveling staff, championship participants and fans,” a statement released from F1 said.

F1 said in a statement that they were working with the promoter and local authorities to look for potential alternative dates, depending on the situation improving.

With the Vietnam Grand Prix scheduled for April 5, F1 is monitoring the status of Vietnam given the fact it borders China.

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“The reality of today, in most other countries [away from China], the number of people affected is a handful,” F1 boss Chase Carey said. “But we don’t know what it will be in a week or two.”

As of Wednesday, the death toll from coronavirus has risen past 1,100 with over 44,000 reported cases and the World Health Organization has declared it a global health emergency.

The last F1 race to be cancelled was the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix, which was called off due to civil unrest.

The 2020 Formula 1 season will begin on March 15 with the Australian Grand Prix.