Australian GP reportedly cancelled as coronavirus hits McLaren

MELBOURNE – The season-opening Formula One Australian Grand

Prix on Sunday will be postponed after the coronavirus struck

McLaren, the BBC and Germany's Bild paper reported.

The BBC said it had been told by two senior Formula 1 sources on

Thursday that the race is off, but there was no official confirmation

from F1 or the governing body FIA.

F1 organizers and the motorsport governing body FIA were considering

the next steps after McLaren withdrew from the race due to a team

member contracting the coronavirus.

"Following the outcome of the test on a member the McLaren team,

Formula 1 and the FIA have been in close contact with them on their

decision and have been coordinating with all the relevant authorities

on the next steps," a statement said.

"Our priority is the safety of the fans, the teams and all personnel

at the race."

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) said it was "currently

in discussions with F1, the FIA & the Department of Health and Human

Services in relation to the broader implications of this test

result."

McLaren said the team member tested positive for the coronavirus

self-isolated as soon as they started to show symptoms and will now

be treated by local healthcare authorities in Melbourne.

The AGPC said on Twitter that eight people had completed tests for

the virus with only the McLaren staff member being positive. A ninth

person, who is "not associated with any F1 team, the FIA or

associated suppliers," was waiting on the outcome of a test.

McLaren team chiefs informed the governing FIA of the decision to

withdraw from Sunday's race a day before practice is due to start at

Albert Park.

Mercedes driver and reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton had

earlier questioned why the race was going ahead when so many other

sporting events around the world were being cancelled or closing

doors to fans.

Local organizers consistently said the race weekend would go ahead as

planned with fans in attendance even while other sporting events

around the world were cancelled or imposed restrictions.

The Chinese Grand Prix in April has already been postponed and fans

will not be allowed to attend next week's Bahrain Grand Prix.

dpa