Andrew Westacott, Australian Grand Prix Chief, says that the race could be rescheduled. He pointed out the possibility if his talks with Formula 1 succeed for a reschedule.
The Australian GP was cancelled following the wake of Corona Virus outbreak through-out the world. First Formula 1 case surfaced in the paddock on Thursday.
Race was called off, by a joint decision of FIA, F1 and Asutralian GP Corporation, two hours before the start of first practice session of the GP.
McLaren team member was diagnosed with CONVID-19 after symptoms surfaced. He was quarantined for two weeks time. Additionally, 14 other member were also place under strict observation who had been closely working with the individual.
F1 administration is strictly observing the grounds for Convid-19 and will be rescheduling the season accordingly. Reports suggest that season could be delayed till June.
Westacott, AGPC CEO, used the cancellation word deliberately to save the fans from confusion. However, there is probability of race being reschedule.
“It’s important to say that we used the word cancellation because of the immediacy of the timing of it,” said Westacott.
“It was important to make sure the fans who were here in Melbourne, some of the fans who were at the gate, knew that it wasn’t a postponement or didn’t get the impression it was a postponement for some period of hours or days or something.
“The word cancellation was used deliberately here.”
Westacott Reschedule-Talks
Westacott informed that the talks with F1 would be held for a potential reschedule of the GP.
“I’ve learned in the world of Formula 1 that you never say never,” Westacott said.
“We clearly had been working on the here and now with Chase Carey and the FIA and Formula 1.
“We’ll work through matters, but we haven’t started to think about future staging or anything like that.
“It’s clearly a normal topic of discussion that will happen in the fullness of time.”
AGP-Dismantling
But Westacott admitted that the arrangement can’t be upheld for months.
“We can’t leave it here for months. One of the things we respect here is there are sporting activities here,” he said.
“We recognise that one of the privileges we have is to occupy a beautiful park in the CBD of Melbourne, so we want to minimise the impact of the build and the dismantle.
“We would expect to be dismantling and removing the infrastructure and returning it back to the sporting clubs of Albert Park and Melbourne.”
