FORMULA ONE’S gamble to roll the dice in a game against the coronavirus backfired spectacularly and has now plunged the sport deep into chaos.
In a day of disaster, F1 has been left on the brink with uncertainty over its future and — with tumbling share prices — key figures within the sport will be held accountable.
Read our Coronavirus in Sport live blog for the latest news, updates and cancellations
As SunSport reported yesterday, F1 chiefs had pressed ahead with plans to stage this race, despite the pandemic caused by the deadly virus.
Of the three team members tested for the Covid-19 disease, one came back positive, resulting in the McLaren team announcing their withdrawal from the race.
That came at 10.21pm local time in Melbourne. F1’s contingency plan should have kicked in — given the likelihood of the outbreak in the paddock.
But with their reluctance to scrap this season-opening event, and with seemingly no accountability, there was a deafening silence.
Nothing from F1 chief Chase Carey or FIA president, Jean Todt. There was nothing either from F1 managing director Ross Brawn despite him being seen at the track during the day.
An embarrassing guessing game eschewed while F1’s owner, Liberty Media’s share price tumbled rapidly.
A meeting was held with team bosses, F1 and FIA, and after a vote, it was finally agreed the race would be pulled.
That came in the early hours of yesterday, nearly FOUR hours after McLaren’s statement. However late last night the FIA had still not officially confirmed the race was off.
The Woking team said: “McLaren Racing has confirmed in Melbourne that it has withdrawn from the 2020 Formula One Australian Grand Prix, following the positive test of a team member for the coronavirus.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.
“McLaren is co-operating 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.
“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.”
Now serious questions will be asked about the planning and crisis management of F1.
The lack of medical advice left team’s guessing and making up their own procedures to limit exposure to the virus.
There were no media guidelines from professor Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission, who was heading up their “crisis cell” designed to monitor the virus.
Some will be questioning just why F1 pressed ahead with plans to come to the other side of the world in the first place, bringing 4,500 visitors from Europe, including virus-hit Italy.
