In the round-up: The third round of the IndyCar season at Long Beach in California will not go ahead due to the Coronavirus.
Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Another blow: am hearing @F1 fan festival scheduled for Kyalami/Jhb on 28-29/3 cancelled due to #Corvid19. What next? Confirmation about Australia, Vietnam? And then?
— Fritz-Dieter Rencken (@RacingLines) March 12, 2020
There is a fair amount of anxiety in the paddock. We’re basically being asked to keep away from the drivers as a precaution… #F1
— Jennie Gow (@JennieGow) March 12, 2020
Dear fans,
Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all public appearances for the remainder of the Australian Grand Prix.
With the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, the decision has been made in the interest of the Team’s health and safety. pic.twitter.com/x2ebbtSBsw
— Walkinshaw Andretti United (@FollowWAU) March 12, 2020
Terrible management by the @fia….why risk the health and safety of all the teams, drivers and fans in the first place. Especiallly now with it looking like it will be postponed anyway it just makes a mockery of the sport 🙈. #F1
— Gemma Wynne (@LittleWynne31) March 12, 2020
The way this whole thing has been handled has been a right farce by the FIA and F1 🤦🏻♀️. Only McLaren seem to be on top of things. Proud to be a McLaren fan yet embarrassed to be an F1 fan. #AustralianGP
— Nikki (@life_of_niksi) March 12, 2020
Looks like a massive own goal for #f1 😕 it appears that #motogp got things right and cancelled races almost immediately. It seems increasingly likely that the race will be cancelled, despite so many personnel/media flying halfway around the world. #coronavirus
— jason cronin (@jaycronin) March 12, 2020
Should also point out that we had 10 mins of opening questions from F1 where the coronavirus was not mentioned once. Message from F1 is clear. Don't mention the c-word.
— Ben Hunt (@benjhunt) March 12, 2020
Tonight I’m so angry and disappointed in #F1. This was a scenario that many feared, and it was totally avoidable. It’s a sad day for the sport.
— Jon Noble (@NobleF1) March 12, 2020
#Tifosi, Seb and Charles have a message for you ❤️💪
#ForzaRagazzi #DistantiMaUniti #essereFerrari 🔴 pic.twitter.com/oKj4hmXZbS— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 12, 2020
What was supposed to be the longest #F1 calendar ever is going to end up being the shortest since…
2015? (19 races)
2009? (17 races)
2003? (16 races)
1983? (15 races)— Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) March 12, 2020
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Statement on 2020 Grand Prix of Long Beach (Grand Prix of Long Beach)
"In light of today’s announcement from the City of Long Beach prohibiting all large-scale events in the City through April 30, 2020, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will not take place as scheduled on April 17-19."
FIA chief Jean Todt slams F1's 'Gang of Seven' (Daily Mail)
"Building on a totally inaccurate and biased fact pattern, not only do you challenge the decision of the FIA, you openly question the integrity of the Federation and its representatives, suggesting a fraudulent collusion between the FIA and Scuderia Ferrari."
Photographer latest to go into self-isolation at Australian GP (Speedcafe)
"A photographer left the Albert Park circuit midway through today wearing a face mask, with Speedcafe.com learning he would be placed on self-isolation pending the outcome of medical tests."
Vietnam GP under threat as a result of the coronavirus outbreak (BBC)
"F1 boss Chase Carey is in Vietnam, trying to ensure the race goes ahead."
Coronavirus: les organisateurs du GP de France se veulent rassurants (AutoHebdo - French)
French Grand Prix managing director Eric Boullier says the race, scheduled for the last weekend in June, is currently expected to go ahead despite the Coronavirus outbreak. "excerpt"
Dirt Rally 2.0 Game of the Year Edition (Dirt via YouTube)
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Comment of the day
Indecision over the fate of the Australian Grand Prix left fans waiting outside the track before being turned away:
I have no medical qualifications, but isn’t forcing people to group up outside the gates like that “a bad thing”?
You know, instead of just issuing a proper statement in advance, like Thursday pm, or worse still, Friday early am?
It’s not like the virus will strike only when they reach the stands.
This is a disgrace. It is patently clear that FIA and FOM have money as their first priority over the well-being of their fans, despite their claims to the contrary. They’re afraid to pull the trigger on a cancellation just so that various contractual clauses won’t be triggered, and want someone else to do it for them (i.e. force majeure, due to a call by the authorities, which presumably gives them an out, or the drivers/teams to be seen as the ones calling for a cancellation).
@Phylyp
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Armen, Pabs, Starosta, Aqib and Aqib!
If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is via the contact form or adding to the list here.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
13th March 2020, 1:59
Jean Todt obviously believes that offence is the best form of defence. He’s probably right, because I am offended by his statements.
Between that Ferrari settlement and their mishandling of the Aus GP, the FIA have come out looking quite poorly, in my eyes.
Thanks for the CotD, Keith!
ColdFly (@)
13th March 2020, 15:37
Welcome back and congrats to you with your CotD and all who have their birthday today.
Matt
13th March 2020, 2:15
I was one of those fans queued up at the gate. I’m not angry, just dejected and numb as this is such a sad situation we find ourselves in. In difficult times sport allows us to unite and provides an escape, and now we don’t even have that.
Instead of taking potshots at F1, FIA, AGPC and government authorities, try to put yourselves in their shoes and consider the legal ramifications of any rash decisions being made. Unfortunately the situation hasn’t turned out in anyone’s favour.
Fingers crossed this virus becomes more under control and we can still salvage a memorable season. If not, would they race the current cars next year and delay new regs to 2022 to ease the burden on teams with the inevitable financial squeeze that is to come?
Jon (@johns23)
13th March 2020, 2:24
Great comment Matt. Spewin you were turned away at the gate, but as you said, lets look at the bigger picture. Could see the regs being pushed out a year as I don’t see much racing or any racing is going to happen at all for the entire year
GtisBetter (@)
13th March 2020, 7:14
Well, a huge number of events have been cancelled and only this one looked like amateur hour. And we all know why, cause of money, not legal reasons. Teams decided what was the safest thing to do, not FIA. There is no reason to defend them. They can be called out and criticized on the way they handled it.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
13th March 2020, 4:49
Heh, fun happenings on the non-Corona front as well. Not sure of the veracity of the news source, so use your judgement!
Ferrarigate: Mercedes Leaves Rebels (F1 Insider)
Jeanrien (@jeanrien)
13th March 2020, 8:52
@phylyp True or not, Mercedes is the team with the less to gain from that battle except maybe weaken Ferrari for upcoming season if they have to downgrade their PU as a result. Is it worth for them to spend time, energy and resources on this? Better leave it to other teams which have bigger interest in the matter, it makes no sense for them to lead the fight.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
13th March 2020, 8:55
@jeanrien – very true, from a practical perspective. Although if they had stayed on, it would have given them a significant moral high ground: “We have nothing to gain, and yet we protest for the good of the sport.”
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
13th March 2020, 5:36
Alright, here’s my proposal. Cancel the entire season and relaunch the 2020 season as an E-sports event where the real drivers can race in the comfort of their own homes/quarantine and teams can provide updates through the season using CFD etc. Worry about real F1 for 2021.
proud_asturian
13th March 2020, 9:59
That sounds really gay.
UNeedAFinn2Win (@uneedafinn2win)
13th March 2020, 10:14
You obviously mean jolly and joyful as in the original meaning of the word. Any other use of that word is just showcasing your stupidity and ignorance and has no place in this or any other conversation.
And no. There will be no replacement e-series. Two completely different worlds of entertainment that barely overlap
Dave
7th May 2021, 11:40
no.
Jere (@jerejj)
13th March 2020, 6:36
I share the same views as many others. The decision should’ve been made before any teams and drivers had left Europe for Australia at the very latest last weekend.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
13th March 2020, 7:37
Seeing the YouTube video of Carey, and the stress in Carey’s voice made me wonder how their shares were doing, and I checked FWONK. They closed on 12-Mar at $25.54, which is lower than their 200 day moving average, roughly $2.50 dollars lower than their lowest 52-week value, and lowest ever since late 2016 (when I presume it was created/seeded).
The markets have tanked due to the global impact of coronavirus, but Ferrari is nowhere as hard hit when considering the overall value. Really makes you wonder who needs who more!
The picture isn’t pretty for others, though: Renault, Mercedes.
GtisBetter (@)
13th March 2020, 9:22
I can’t be sure, but because Renault And mercedes have a lot of plants with possible part shortage and laborers being infected, which impact revenue much more, they are being sold more. Ferrari as a specialist will have delays and sell less, but it will most likely be less of an impact. Pure speculation.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
13th March 2020, 9:31
@passingisoverrated – eh, not to worry, that’s par for the course for many of us here, myself included :)
Here’s my guess – I was thinking that Ferrari is a marque/aspirational brand, so it was holding onto its value better than Renault (an everyman brand) and Merc (who have increased their accessbility, which conversely diminished their value).
Qeki (@qeki)
13th March 2020, 10:23
Well once the AUS gp is cancelled it should be easier for FIA and the rest to postpone the season even more. If you don’t race in Australia why in the earth would you race in Bahrain, Vietnam and even when the european tour starts.
Money speaks but it should be common sense not to race until everything calm downs. Even though this is just another virus as was bird flu if we want to stop it making people come to same space isn’t one thing that helps.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
13th March 2020, 10:26
says the former Ferrari Team Principal that is now FIA president
JimG (@jimg)
13th March 2020, 13:22
Do we have to worry about crows now as well?!
Phylyp (@phylyp)
13th March 2020, 14:56
Ha ha, nice one, @jimg.
But have you not seen the Hitchcock movie?!? They’ve had it in for us for well over half a century :)