FORMULA ONE chiefs have spoken out amid fears that forest fires across Canada could force a THIRD race of the season to be cancelled.
The circuit is set to return to Canada for the seventh race of the 2023 season on June 18.
But a reported 160 fires are burning throughout the Quebec region, north east of where the race is held in Montreal.
More than 15,000 Quebec residents have been forced to evacuate the area, which could cause problems for the race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is closely monitoring the situation according to reports.
Bosses have attempted to calm fears that the race could be called off.
An F1 spokesman said on Thursday: “The event is not at risk, and we have been assured by all the relevant information that the situation in Montreal is different to other parts of the country and northern US”.
The situation in Canada comes just a few weeks after F1 was forced to cancel the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix due to heavy flooding.
While the Chinese Grand Prix was cancelled before the season even began due to COVID-19.
The provisional record 24-race calendar could be reduced to 21 if the race is cancelled in Montreal.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
According to Canada’s Emergency Minister Bill Blair, 9.4 million acres have already burned, which is larger than the US state of Maryland.
Smoke from the wildfires has been thrown as far west as Chicago and as far south as New York City.
The situation has prompted worries that a change of wind direction could impact Montreal, which is due to hold the GP next weekend.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
