The promoters of Vietnam’s new F1 race are “actively monitoring” the potential threat the coronavirus may pose to the country’s debut on the world championship calendar.
Formula 1’s inaugural race in the country is due to take place in April at a new street circuit in Hanoi, not far from the country’s northern border with China. However the outbreak of the coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, may put the race in jeopardy.Over 300 people are believed to have died as a result of the virus, which has also claimed one life outside China. Yesterday Formula E cancelled its race in Sanya, China, which was due to take place on March 21st.
Vietnam’s race is scheduled to take place on April 5th, two weeks before F1 races in China. The Vietnam race promoters issued the following statement in response to a request by RaceFans:
“We are actively monitoring the situation as it develops. For now we don’t anticipate any significant impact on our April event. We will continue to work with our relevant authorities to closely monitor the situation.”
Last month the FIA said it was prepared to make alterations to its planned schedule of races in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Speaking to RaceFans late last year, Vietnam Grand Prix corporation chief executive Le Ngoc Chi said they expected tickets sales for the race to be split 50-50 between local spectators and visitors from abroad.
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Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
3rd February 2020, 8:16
I guess the first question is “What is the threshold for aborting the event?”, and a close second is “What factors are included in the threshold?”.
Islander
3rd February 2020, 14:32
Fires in Oz, Killer virus in Asia.
Holding every 2020 race in Silverstone is looking a def possibility. You can’t be too careful.
PaulK (@paulk)
3rd February 2020, 8:32
The way things are progressing there is a very high probability the Chinese GP won’t go ahead.
As for Vietnam, I guess it depends on how the virus spreads, or doesn’t, through the region. And even if it does go ahead, all the travel restrictions in place the people avoiding travelling and large agglomerations out of fear or caution will definitely have a negative impact on the GP. Not the best year to start unfortunately.
Dave
3rd February 2020, 12:47
I’ve got my ticket for the race and have a 10 day trip planned around it (flying from UK).
At this stage it’s too late to refund any of my travel arrangements without the Foreign Office advising against travel and that’s the advice I’ll follow.
Whilst the spread of the disease is clear, the actual threat to non-wuhan visitors is not (all deaths have a direct relation to Wuhan) and therefore I’m not hugely concerned at this present time.
bwells88 (@bwells88)
5th February 2020, 3:42
I’m in the same boat or plane!.. I have my tickets and flights all booked but I need Air Canada to not cancel any more flights as I have to travel thru China getting to Vietnam.. 🙏🙏🇨🇦
Mike
5th February 2020, 21:01
Might want to be careful if your flights are coming through China. Last advise I saw was that anyone who had visited China in the previous 14 days would not be allowed in to Vietnam. Not sure how that works if you are just transferring but not leaving the airport however and may all change come April. We’re coming from the UK and praying it all still goes ahead.
Anna
6th February 2020, 13:13
I have to agree with Mike! Change your tickets if you can to go through anywhere else but China. I am in the same plane as well…..all booked, 2 weeks of holidays + the GP. Not sure if I should have concerns just yet but I follow the Vietnamese news everyday and will cancel only if its necessary.
JK
10th February 2020, 6:24
No one is flying in to China any more. Any flights out of China, depending on where you go, will be quarantined. Feel a bit sorry for the organisers, this diabolical Wuhan virus will surely affect their International visitor numbers due to the proximity of the border between it and the PRC. I’m in Australia and we had a tour party organised to do the GP and then do some sightseeing for a couple of weeks. As this has dragged on and the infected numbers and deaths have increased alarmingly, some in the party have lost the appetite for risk. If it was held in Saigon (south) I would go no problem, but being in Hanoi I think will tip the dominoes for me.
Tina
6th February 2020, 6:25
We also have Vietnam GP tickets arriving Hanoi on 5th April from UK then spending 2 weeks holidaying in various parts of the country
We are still hopeful both holiday and GP go ahead
S moorby
12th February 2020, 20:58
We also have tickets flying in for a holiday on phu quoc , then on to Cambodia then flying to Hanoi for GP. All hotels and flights booked.
Fingers crossed it goes ahead ☹️
Kevin Brown
18th February 2020, 16:49
We are a group of 5 guys coming to Hanoi on the 1st April from the UK and staying until 8th we have flights accommodation and tickets all booked and paid for so no cancellation for us, i am monitoring the situation closely but no news as yet.