F1 Australian Grand Prix 2021: Postponement speculation mounts

Hope this year’s Australian Grand Prix will go ahead as planned is fading amid mounting speculation the event will be postponed.

Tourism operators are holding hope for a date to be set for Melbourne’s Formula 1 Grand Prix amid mounting speculation it will be postponed.

The race was planned for March 18-21 but organisers said it may take several weeks of negotiations before it can lock in the schedule.

Tickets have yet to go on sale for the event.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation said on Tuesday it was still in talks with the Victorian government and Formula 1 over quarantine plans.

“Further detail will be provided upon finalisation of arrangements with all parties in the coming weeks,” the corporation said in a statement.

The 2020 Australian Grand Prix was cancelled at the last minute, with fans who were already at the track told to leave.

Formula 1 great Alan Jones said a miracle was needed for this year’s race to go ahead in March but said having it postponed was “better than nothing”.

Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said the industry was eagerly waiting for a race date to be set.

“Once arrangements are finally agreed and announced officially we know this will be good news for our Melbourne hotel sector as they rely so heavily on these major events to support their occupancy,” she said.

Spectators react after it was announced that the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2020 was cancelled

Most hotels had yet to take bookings from race fans because tickets hadn’t been released and there was ongoing uncertainty about crowd sizes and potential border restrictions.

Australian Hotels Association Victoria president David Canny said the Grand Prix was a “massive” event for Melbourne and he was hopeful it would be staged at some point this year.

“While disappointed, we understand if they have to postpone and we support that 100 per cent,” he said.

“We want to see these big events stay here in Melbourne, but when it’s safe to do so.”

Police Minister Lisa Neville was quizzed about the Grand Prix arrangements on Tuesday and said discussions were ongoing.

“There has been no decision that has been made to cancel, move or otherwise, the Australian Grand Prix. Those conversations are live and active,” she said.

“Obviously public health will be a key factor to that and how you quarantine, all of those issues go to that. So those conversations are still going on, no decision’s been made.”

Any final decision would require a plan for biosecurity measures for international drivers and crews, Ms Neville said.

“That (plan) would then be tested by the health team to see what stacked up. So we’re still a way from being in that position. It’s still now looking at how would quarantine work, whether they’re willing to quarantine, where they would quarantine, how that would be done, when it would be done, all of those discussions are underway.”

The main straight of the track after the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2020 was cancelled

She clarified all overseas arrivals would be required to quarantine.

Fans shared their frustration on social media, raising concerns about the uncertainty.

“Everyone knows that the #AustralianGP will be postponed. Can someone take the bl**dy initiative to officially announce it. Did no one learn from last year’s atrocity?” one Twitter user wrote.

Another asked: “Can you guys officially confirm postponement/cancellation I need to cancel flights and accommodation.”

Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said it was vital Melbourne retained the Grand Prix.

“There are plenty of other cities, there are plenty of other states and countries, that would love to have our spot on the GP calendar, that would love to have our GP,” he said.

“So the government cannot afford to continually drop the ball when it comes to major events, because the danger is if this Labor government drops the ball, the ball won’t come back to us, we will lose these things.

“The government’s had plenty of notice, plenty of opportunity, to know what to get done to get it right, to allow these events to proceed safely.

“So whether it’s the Australian Open tennis, or the Formula One Grand Prix, its time for the government to get its act together and make sure these events can go ahead and go ahead safely.”

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Andrew Westacott said in November they were taking a “sensible, adaptable and flexible approach” to staging the race in front of a crowd.

“Our massive parkland venue with 10.6 kilometres of track frontage provides us with the perfect opportunity to create a COVID-safe venue,” he said at the time.

The Australian Grand Prix traditionally opens the Formula 1 season.

There are 23 international races on this year’s calendar.

A reshuffle would mean the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for March 28 was the most likely to replace Melbourne as the 2021 season opener.