The F1 thread

Dodge

Aussie GP postponed unsurprisingly.

Cols

Dodge said:

McLaren have just pulled out of the Aussie GP:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/51849163

If Mosley was still around he’d be fining McLaren $100 million for bio-warfare.

fretmeister

Dodge said:

Aussie GP postponed unsurprisingly.

BBC are reporting that, but nothing official yet that I can see.

PC_Dave

fretmeister said:

Dodge said:

Aussie GP postponed unsurprisingly.

BBC are reporting that, but nothing official yet that I can see.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/148638/australian-gp-set-to-be-cancelled-due-to-coronavirus

fretmeister

PC_Dave said:

fretmeister said:

Dodge said:

Aussie GP postponed unsurprisingly.

BBC are reporting that, but nothing official yet that I can see.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/148638/australian-gp-set-to-be-cancelled-due-to-coronavirus

Loads are saying "Set" and "high level sources"

Still not official.

Be surprised if it isn't accurate though.

The Rugby Pro14 season has been suspended now too.

PC_Dave

Apparently expecting the official line within an hour, according to the Twitters

Cols

Kimi and Seb have already flown home.

not_the_dj

Official announcement 

https://www.fia.com/news/fia-formula-1-and-australian-grand-prix-corporation-joint-statement

stickyfiddle

Good they've cancelled but also at least 12 hours (if not several days) too late. Shame for viewers but the right thing to do.

Can we have the drivers do simracing or some televised karting instead? That wouldn't need the thousands of team members to attend.

stickyfiddle

Apparently it was Mercedes that led the suggestion to stop.

https://www.racefans.net/2020/03/12/mercedes-request-cancellation-of-australian-grand-prix/

Showing considerably more integrity than the promoters and FIA.

prowla

breakstuff said:

First world problem, I know, but not holding out much hope of getting a rebate from Sky for my F1 channel subscription if some races get cancelled. 

I'd been debating subscribing to Sky Sports, but didn't on the basis that it works out at about £10 per race; this makes it even less attractive.

Fretwired

F1 season now suspended until May 2020.

Cols

The lawyers are going to have a field day with this one, thrashing out who gets left holding the can for the financial losses.  Race goers will want ticket refunds, circuits will want their hosting fees returned, sponsors will want their money back... the list goes on.

Not a great time to be renegotiating the Concorde Agreement.  The Mercedes board already seemed to be questioning whether or not to continue as a constructor after 2020, and this isn’t really going to push them in a positive direction.  Gene Haas is already being vocal about withdrawing his team, and this may be the nail in the coffin.

Cols

Latest estimate is end of May, meaning the season would start in Monaco and skip the Dutch and Spanish Grand Prix as well.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.2020-season-now-expected-to-start-at-end-of-may-say-formula-1-and-fia.2n6qLwDR90AcXuzVuu7lEa.html

TimmyO

Cols said:

Latest estimate is end of May, meaning the season would start in Monaco and skip the Dutch and Spanish Grand Prix as well.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.2020-season-now-expected-to-start-at-end-of-may-say-formula-1-and-fia.2n6qLwDR90AcXuzVuu7lEa.html

Blimey 

stickyfiddle

JEV organising a simrace. Both RB and McLaren drivers are likely, all tbc soon. If they all have equal virtual machinery will we find out who's actually best?  

Fretwired

Cols said:

Latest estimate is end of May, meaning the season would start in Monaco and skip the Dutch and Spanish Grand Prix as well.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.2020-season-now-expected-to-start-at-end-of-may-say-formula-1-and-fia.2n6qLwDR90AcXuzVuu7lEa.html

Latest news - moving to June, cancelling the summer break and ending in December so that cancelled Grand Prix can be rescheduled. The FIA are looking at 18 races.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

I'd be amazed if we got 18 races this season. No chance IMO. 

Fretwired

Dontgiveupyourdayjob said:

I'd be amazed if we got 18 races this season. No chance IMO. 

It could be done - scrap the mid season break and go to mid-December.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Fretwired said:

Dontgiveupyourdayjob said:

I'd be amazed if we got 18 races this season. No chance IMO. 

It could be done - scrap the mid season break and go to mid-December.

That's assuming things will be vaguely back to normal by June though. I'm not so sure!