2020 Australian Grand Prix Cancelled

Melbourne will host the first round on the 2020 Formula 1 calendar
Melbourne will kick off the 2020 Formula 1 calendar (image courtesy Red Bull Racing)
Melbourne will host the first round on the 2020 Formula 1 calendar
Melbourne will kick off the 2020 Formula 1 calendar (image courtesy Red Bull Racing)

This weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne has been cancelled. The news follows McLaren’s withdrawal from the race on Thursday, after one of their team members tested positive for the coronavirus.

A statement issued jointly by F1, governing body the FIA and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation read: “Following the confirmation that a member of the McLaren Racing Team has tested positive for COVID-19 and the team’s decision to withdraw from the Australian Grand Prix, Formula 1 and the FIA convened a meeting of the other nine team principals on Thursday evening. Those discussions concluded with a majority view of the teams that the race should not go ahead.

“Formula 1 and the FIA, with the full support of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) have therefore taken the decision that all Formula 1 activity for the Australian Grand Prix are cancelled.

“We appreciate this is very disappointing news for the thousands of fans due to attend the race and all ticket holders will receive a full refund and a further announcement will be communicated in due course.

“All parties took into consideration the huge efforts of the AGPC, Motorsport Australia, staff and volunteers to stage the opening round of the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship in Melbourne, however concluded that the safety of all members of the Formula 1 family and the wider community, as well as the fairness of the competition take priority.”

More in News

F1 Grand Prix Of Monaco

FIA Not Ruling Out Even Harsher Flexi-Wing Clampdown

Nikolas Tombazis is not ruling out clamping down even harder ...
2025 Indy 500

Indy 500 Winner Alex Palou Not Switching To F1

Indy 500 winner Alex Palou has ruled himself out of ...
03 Melbourne Sunday15 778503

Ron Dennis Won’t Return To F1 Paddock, Mutes TV Coverage

Ron Dennis says the British television coverage of Formula 1 ...
Bwt Alpine Formula One Team 2025 Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, Sunday

Renault Is Not Leaving Formula 1 – CEO

Renault CEO Luca de Meo has declared once again that ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Monaco

F1, Monaco, ‘Talking About’ Monaco GP Problem

Stefano Domenicali has confirmed Formula 1 is "talking about" the ...

Trending on F1 Chronicle