2020 Australian GP pre race thread

There are conflicting reports over whether the Australian GP will go ahead, Sky saying yes and BBC saying no.

McLaren confirmed on Thursday that they would not be taking part in the event on the grounds of their safety and all others present in Melbourne.

Their statement read: “McLaren Racing has confirmed in Melbourne this evening that is has withdrawn from the 2020 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, following the positive test of a team member for the coronavirus.

“The team member was tested and self-isolated as soon as they started to show symptoms and will now be treated by local healthcare authorities.

“The team has prepared for this eventuality and has ongoing support in place for its employee who will now enter a period of quarantine. The team is cooperating with the relevant local authorities to assist their investigations and analysis.

“Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and Andreas Seidl, Team Principal of McLaren F1, informed Formula 1 and the FIA of the decision this evening.

“The decision has been taken based on a duty of care not only to McLaren F1 employees and partners, but also to the team’s competitors, Formula 1 fans and wider F1 stakeholders.”

Lewis Hamilton also expressed his surprise that the event was even scheduled to take place, while Sebastian Vettel claimed that drivers would “pull the handbrake” on the race if the situation worsened.

But Sky Sports are reporting that the 2020 season-opener will still go ahead after last-minute meetings in Melbourne to discuss the race’s fate.

Minutes later BBC’s Andrew Benson said he had heard from two people in the know that the race was off.

Still we wait!

The FIA, Formula 1 or Australian Grand Prix Corporation are yet to give any official confirmation.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/australian-gp-set-to-go-ahead/

 

A few Trillion would be more like it. Basically, the rest of the world should boycott China in every respect until they cry for mercy.

 

I would normally search for something on youtube based on comments here, but yesterday I watched a video of China about "The Making of Gutter Oil." OMG I will not watch another video again about the food/street markets of China let alone go there. I'll pass on the wet animal video...

 

Thanks god it isn’t a Ferrari mechanic the first to be found with the virus or the lapidation in the british press or here would have never ended

 

Maybe McLaren's personnel got it while visiting Italy? Not the first time a McLaren employee has visited Italy and not for vacation purposes...

 

There you go. That would make it even worse. What kind of stupid team would authorise his mechanic to go to Italy when there are calls for the teams there not to even go to the race?

 

it was a joke, referring to McLaren stealing from Ferrari back in 08 was it?

 

Lol yep. Stepneygate

 

Update

Paul Little, Chairman of the AUSGP, says the next three days WILL still go on.

Nothing official yet from F1.

 

Start producing in-house again rather than go for cheap labour from the chinese....In the end will be great again for own economies (except Chinas).

 

We're just a few hours away from first practice.

 

Labour in China is not as cheap as it used to be. I guess nowadays it's cheaper in countries such as Ukraine and Romania

 

Would have never got it. Don’t think any mclaren people ever had to go to Italy for that. Very much a 100% British excellence engineered job...

 

If only Ferrari agrees to take part they might win! Wash your hands red boys!

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/148642/australian-gp-organisers-pushing-on-with-race

Australian Grand Prix organisers plan to push on with the rest of its event, despite the expected imminent cancellation of the Formula 1 race due to coronavirus.

The race was plunged into doubt when McLaren announced its withdrawal from the weekend after one of its team members was confirmed as having contracted COVID-19.

Following a meeting of F1 team principals agreeing with the FIA last night in Melbourne not to go ahead with the opening round of the championship, an official announcement about the fate of the grand prix has not yet been made.

However, in a statement obtained by Autosport from the Australian Grand Prix corporation on Friday morning, it was made clear that all other activities were pushing on as planned.

"The gates will open at 8.45am and track activity will commence as scheduled at 9.10am," said the statement.

"Ancillary events, sponsor functions, the hospitality program and all activations and fan engagement activities will commence as planned.

"The broader implications arising from the McLaren withdrawal are being discussed with the FIA and Formula 1 following lengthy discussions overnight.

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"There will be a series of ongoing discussions with key stakeholders through the morning and updates on any changes to the program will be communicated as promptly as possible."

Autosport understands that F1 personnel were informed on Friday morning to treat things like a "normal day", amid the dramatic news of McLaren's withdrawal.

F1 teams are also heading in to the track ready to pack up their equipment, with uncertainty about where F1 goes from here.

Eight other people - a mix of various team members and reportedly a photographer - were taken into self isolation in recent days while they were tested for coronavirus. However, all tests came back negative.

 

Rumours of Vettel and Kimi already leaving.
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https://www.planetf1.com/news/sebastian-vettel-kimi-raikkonen/
Kim and Vettel have left or will be it appears.

 

Conflicting reports about the status of the Australian Grand Prix. The BBC says it is set to be cancelled, but there has been no update from F1, who have been silent on this since McLaren's withdrawal. Team personnel are heading to the circuit as per the usual Friday schedule, having not had instructions to do otherwise. Per local media, Melbourne circuit chief Paul Little is insisting the race will go on as normal.

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Nate Saunders, F1 Associate Editor36m ago

 

Another rumour is that the team meeting last night the vote was 5-5.

 

The unity of F1 lol

 

The fall is going to be crazy. It is beginning to look like all the sports leagues and single-day events will be taking place Sept-Nov.

 

Look, if this is all hyperbole or not is one thing, but everything else is shutting down in the world of sports. You have a member of a team who tested positive. Just end it. It's obvious no one wants to get stuck with the check, but this is farcical.

Edit: I know I've said this like three different times now, but every time I check on here it gets even more surreal that they are trying to press on.

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Latest rumour is that Chase Carey landed a few hours ago and is in a meeting now with Brawn n Co.


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Thanks SPEEDY!

 

Seconded, been looking forward to your updates

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