Chinese F1 Grand Prix postponed due to coronavirus outbreak
12 February 2020, 12:29
Formula One has confirmed that the Chinese Grand Prix will be postponed following the outbreak of coronavirus.
The disease has claimed more than 1,000 lives in China, and it has been decided that the race, originally scheduled to take place in Shanghai on April 19, can no longer go ahead as planned.
The F1 race becomes the latest sporting event to be cancelled in China.
F1 bosses posted online today: "Formula One has confirmed that the Chinese Grand Prix will be postponed following the outbreak of coronavirus.
"F1 and the FIA have accepted a request from the promoter to postpone the event.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and assess potential alternative dates."
The coronavirus has claimed more than 1,000 lives in China.
F1's hierarchy have looked at plans to reschedule the race for later in the season.
But with a record-breaking 22 grands prix - including the round in Shanghai - already on the calendar, switching the race to another date will be difficult.
Speaking last week, F1 motorsport boss Ross Brawn said: "China is an enthusiastic, growing market, so we'd like to have a race there.
"We will just try to find a window of when the race could happen towards the end of the year."
The inaugural Vietnamese Grand Prix is due to take place on April 5. Hanoi is located on the Chinese border and there is growing concern among the travelling F1 circus that the race might also have to be postponed.
But the sport's chiefs are determined that the third round of the season will go ahead as scheduled.
