Ban for F1 Grand Prix stars who try to swerve Covid vaccine
Covid vaccine exemptions will be banned without exception at Melbourne’s Formula One Grand Prix in the wake of the Aus Open’s Novak Djokovic visa circus.
Victoria
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Australian Grand Prix bosses will ban vaccine exemptions at the Melbourne race to slam the brakes on a Novak Djokovic-style saga at the major event.
The Melbourne GP will become a vaccinated-only affair with no exemptions granted to Formula One stars, teams, staff, suppliers or fans.
All drivers and up to 3000 support staff will have to be at least double jabbed to attend, with organisers accepting no excuses in the wake of this month’s Djokovic visa circus.
The likes of F1 stars Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo or Max Verstappen – or any member of the 10 teams from around the world coming to Melbourne – will be banned from competing if they swerve vaccination.
It comes as Australian Grand Prix Corporation boss Andrew Westacott revealed he was struck by Covid-19 this month, while Djokovic’s ugly battle to play the Australian Open without being vaccinated created global headlines.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Mr Westacott stopped short of calling it the “Djokovic rule” but said the Melbourne race would set a hard standard other global events were likely to follow.
“The expectation is that everyone is 100 per cent vaccinated, there will be no exemptions and there is no need for exemptions,” he said. “And that is mutually agreed between us and Formula One.”
Even if the state government mandated a third vaccine dose as requisite to be deemed “fully vaxxed”, the Grand Prix would comply, he said.
Mr Westacott said “the 100 per cent vaccinated and no exemptions rule” had been “totally backed” by the state government.
He expected F1 events around the world to follow.
“It would be highly likely that is going to be the policy in place for the season because that allows F1 and all the businesses associated the greatest assurance of being able to operate,” Mr Westacott said. He said he hoped the Andrews government’s 50 per cent cap on attendances at major events would be lifted before the Grand Prix in April, in order for capacity crowds to attend the first F1 race in Melbourne for three years.
“I’m pushing and wanting to design a venue that is catering for 100 per cent crowds but we have to do that with the right mitigations and specific conditions in place,” he said.
“And they will be done very collaboratively with the Victorian government.”
With F1 enjoying a surge in popularity, no local race since 2019 and most viewing areas outside, Mr Westacott tipped the biggest Melbourne crowd in years – were it to be allowed.
“In the fresh air in April, with a 100 per cent vaccinated level of attendees who will still need to comply with whatever conditions exist … I see that it’s going to be an extremely safe viewing environment,” he said.
A reconfigured and resurfaced Albert Park circuit is set to be unveiled on Friday.
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