WORK on the track for April’s Vietnam Grand Prix is continuing despite fears the race will be axed due to the coronavirus.
This year’s Chinese Grand Prix has already been cancelled as Formula One chiefs worry about the effect of the deadly virus.
Work on the track for the Vietnam GP is still going ahead despite coronavirus risking the race being cancelledCredit: AFP
Some stands are already in place, while the track is coming along wellCredit: AFP
The race in Hanoi could be postponed over coronavirus fearsCredit: AFP
Workers got down to business in a bid to meet their April deadlineCredit: AFP
Vietnamese host city Hanoi is just 100 miles from the Chinese border and is on brink of being cancelled itself over safety fears.
Earlier this week, F1 bosses said if they held the race in Shanghai – just 500 miles from Wuhan – then 60 per cent of the global population could be affected.
On top of that, next month’ 2020 season curtain-raiser in Melbourne, Australia, could be in jeopardy, as travel routes have been shut down on account of coronavirus.
Airport hubs such as Singapore and Hong Kong both have confirmed positive tests for the virus.
Yet despite all the fears and confusion, Vietnam GP bosses are cracking on with getting the track together.
In what will be the first-ever F1 race in the country, chiefs are building a temporary street track in Hanoi – in the north of the country.
APRIL OR BUST?
On Friday, workers were seen busily putting in the hard graft in a bid to have the track ready for its April 5 deadline.
Stands are already in place for fans, while the track itself is coming along nicely.
Should the race be cancelled, F1 bosses may opt to deal with it similarly to the Chinese GP, which they are planning to shoehorn into the already jam-packed schedule later in the year.
A statement read: “The FIA is closely monitoring the evolving situation with relevant authorities and its Member Clubs, under the direction of FIA Medical Commission President, Professor Gerard Saillant.
“The FIA will evaluate the calendar of its forthcoming races and, if necessary, take any action required to help protect the global motor sport community and the wider public.”
F1’s owners, Liberty Media, are desperate for the Hanoi race to be a success as it is the first new addition since they bought the sport in 2017.
Bosses had hoped the Hanoi race would be a roaring successCredit: AFP
The Chinese GP has already been called off, with Vietnam set to followCredit: AFP
For now, work on the race will continue to go ahead as plannedCredit: AFP
On rescheduling any postponed races, F1 boss Chase Carey admitted it would be a struggle, saying: “Part of the challenge is that you don’t really know the timeframe [of the virus].
“Clearly we have a busy calendar so it’s not easy to reschedule this late when essentially we are a month out from our first race of the season.
“We will work with our Chinese partners to try and see, when we know more, what options might exist.”
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
