F1 News
Doctor "not optimistic" about chances of Chinese Grand Prix taking place
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
The Chinese Grand Prix, which is scheduled for April 19th, is in serious jeopardy of actually taking place because of the coronavirus outbreak, with Formula E already postponing the Sanya E-Prix.
The coronavirus has infected thousands and killed over a hundred people worldwide, predominantly in China. Although the virus has not infected many in the Shanghai area, where the Grand Prix takes place, there has been a single fatality, and the FIA would not want to take any risks.
Dr Sergio Brusin is a senior expert at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and he doesn't see the Chinese Grand Prix going ahead in April.
“The virus is still spreading, there is no doubt about it," he told The Guardian.
"There has been a huge increase of cases in China and more countries importing cases. We are seeing human to human transmission outside the area of Wuhan that can indicate that it will spread further.”
The race is two months and a half away, but that the virus will not be contained by that time, Dr Brusin believes.
"We are in for the long run. It is not something that is going to disappear next week, it will be quite a lot of work to contain.
“What happens between now and April is extremely difficult to predict but if the infection keeps on spreading at this pace I would not be optimistic at having an F1 ticket in my pocket.”
The FIA and F1 have acknowledged the situation but have not announced any change of plan yet, but postponement could be on the cards for the Chinese Grand Prix.