F1 Australian Grand Prix will go ahead despite coronavirus outbreak concerns

The Australian Grand Prix will go ahead in Melbourne next month despite the concerns about the global coronavirus outbreak.

The Chinese Grand Prix in April has already been cancelled, with the epidemic first breaking out in Wuhan, west China.

However, F1 chief executive Chase Care insists there are no plans to cancel the first race of the season next Sunday in Australia.

“We're heading to Melbourne, heading to Bahrain and heading to Hanoi,” he told in a conference call this week.

Australian Grand Prix boss Andrew Westacott admitted that the coronavirus was presenting issues ahead of the season opening race despite government warnings, but insisted that there was a chan ce plans may change.

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He noted: “We will take our guidance and lead from the health authorities and fall into line with their instructions. We have to be open-minded.”

Chase added that preparations for the Vietnam Grand Prix were currently going ahead as normal.

All 16 of Vietnam’s cases of coronavirus have been cured, and the country has taken strict measures to keep cases to a minimum.

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“The Vietnam Grand Prix will take place on 5 April in Hanoi. And to anticipate another question, we do plan to proceed with the race,” he noted.

Formula 1 is currently in Barcelona for the second week of testing ahead of next weekend’s curtain raiser in Australia.

Sebastien Vettel enjoyed the best morning on Thursday, completing the fastest lap and the most laps of the track.

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