Coronavirus Fears Could Potentially Put the Australian Grand Prix 2020 in Doubt

The coronavirus epidemic appears to be wreaking a lot more havoc than originally feared. Apparently, cases have popped up in Italy, and now it has reached Australian shores. The local authorities are on high alert and confessed that there is a likelihood that all major sporting events could be cancelled. Unfortunately for Formula One fans, the upcoming Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne may fall under that.

Since the Melbourne race is the season opener, it makes things all the more difficult. In fact, even Scuderia Ferrari were forced to place their Maranello facility on lockdown. Obviously, questions about the continent’s ability to host a race this season, have arisen.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Brett Sutton, noted: “I think we have to keep all options open. If it’s a very mild pandemic, like the 2009 flu pandemic, then you don’t need really significant action. But if it’s severe and we need to do absolutely everything possible to reduce the peak, reduce the number of cases, then we have to keep all options open.”

What does this mean for the Australian Grand Prix 2020?

Fortunately, it is not all doom and gloom for the F1 fans. Dr. Sutton assured that the outbreak is ‘mild’, so a Formula One race is still on the cards. He insisted that it would take ‘extraordinary activity’ to merit a cancellation.

However, in spite of the good news, Sutton knows that they are not out of the woods yet. He insisted that the authorities will monnitor the situation, especially since high-profile events like these, are planned months in advance. So, he believes that it would take some extraordinary activity of the coronavirus in Australia to cancel something like this at this stage.

Sutton knows that the Australian Grand Prix It’s a huge economic boost to the country and people are harmed by economic constraints as well, so we have the bear that in mind. People can die as a result of really significant economic harms.”