F1 boss explains Chinese Grand Prix plan as coronavirus threatens to postpone opening race

This year’s Chinese Grand Prix is in doubt due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus in China. F1 managing director of motorsports and technical director Ross Brawn still hopes a race will go ahead in the Far East this spring, but admits it’s a “difficult situation.”

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix last year, but this year he may not get the chance to race on a track where he’s had so much joy over the years – winning the event six times in his career.

The 2020 Grand Prix season kicks off in Melbourne on March 15 before races in Bahrain and Vietnam.

The Chinese Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on April 19 in Shanghai, two weeks after the race in Vietnam which is also in question due due to the coronavirus.

“It is a tragic and very difficult situation. It’ll become clear in the next week or two what’s going to happen,” Brawn said.

“It looks very difficult. We’re waiting for the Chinese promoter and authorities to make the final decision, which I think they will.

“They have cancelled all the public events in March, so there will no public sporting events or activities.”

The Chinese Grand Prix has been a successful event since it was first held in 2004, but for the first time since its introduction the event is in serious jeopardy.

The event generates a lot of money, and China is a promising location due to the country’s rapidly growing economy and attractive industrial outlay.

Although the event looks in doubt, Brawn remains hopeful that F1 drivers could still take to the Chinese track at some point in this year.

Brawn added: “China is an enthusiastic, growing market, so we’d like to have a race in China.”

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The Shanghai Sports Federation yesterday released a statement urging the FIA to cancel the Chinese Grand Prix due to safety concerns.

Their statement read: “We will just try to find a window of when the race could happen towards the end of the year.

“The following measures are proposed for the department and requirements of the Bureau of sports, for the effective prevention and control of the spread of the epidemic, for the city’s sports and social groups.

“In the case of post-Emergency Measures , the following are proposed: FIRST Stop all sports events.

“Strict implementation of the requirements of the Municipal Sports Bureau during the outbreak of the disease to no longer organise sports events.

“For the implementation of the State Council Office, the municipal prevention and control work leading group, of the city.

“Strict implementation of the requirements of the Municipal Sports Bureau during the outbreak of the disease to no longer organise sports events.

“Suspension of all sports events (sports events, performances, forums, foreign exchange and other activities), until the end of the epidemic situation.”

It has been announced today that a third UK person has been confirmed as having the coronavirus, and in China the death toll has surpassed 500 while more than 28,000 have confirmed infections.

source: express.co.uk