Official: F1 calls off Bahrain Grand Prix and Vietnam’s first race. F1 calls off Bahrain Grand Prix and Vietnam’s first race.

Formula 1’s races in Bahrain and Vietnam have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus, taking the number of events called off this year to four.

The championship announced the two races have been “postponed” from their planned dates of March 22nd and April 5th respectively, but has not confirmed when the races will go ahead.
The official statement from Formula 1 also cast doubt on whether the Dutch and Spanish Grand Prix will go ahead on their current dates of May 3rd and May 10th respectively.

“Formula 1 and the FIA expect to begin the championship in Europe at the end of May,” it said, “but given the sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in Europe in recent days, this will be regularly reviewed.” F1 is due to race in Monaco on May 24th, followed by the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on June 7th.

“The global situation regarding Covid-19 is fluid and very difficult to predict and its right we take time to assess the situation and make the right decisions,” said Formula 1 chairman and CEO Chase Carey.

“We are taking this decision with the FIA and our promoters to ensure the safety of everyone involved in Formula 1 and our fans. The Bahrain Grand Prix is an exciting race in our schedule, and we look forward to being back there as soon as we can. We are also looking forward to Vietnam’s inaugural race and bringing the spectacle of F1 to one of the most exciting cities in the world.”

FIA president Jean Todt said “postponing both the Bahrain and Vietnam Grands Prix, as with the Australian Grand Prix, was the only possible decision given all of the information currently available to us.

“We continue to rely on the input and advice from the World Health Organization (WHO) and governments and will work with them throughout this unpredictable period to safeguard the fans, competitors and all of the motor sport community.”