Australian Grand Prix rocked by pit lane coronavirus fear

Three F1 team members have been placed in isolation and tested after ­exhibiting symptoms, casting doubt over the Melbourne event.

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo at the grand prix circuit before cancelling a press conference. Picture: AAP

Three F1 team members have been placed in isolation and ­tested for the coronavirus after ­exhibiting symptoms, casting doubt over the Melbourne Grand Prix, which starts on Thursday and is expected to attract more than 300,000 fans over four days.

The team members, two from the Haas team and one from McLaren, were tested on Wednesday, with the results expected to be known on Thursday morning. The team members were ­returned to their hotels and ­isolated pending the outcome of the tests.

The virus twist means the grand prix is now in danger of joining other sporting and cultural events around the world that have been cancelled or held behind closed doors.

Hobart’s midwinter arts festival Dark Mofo was cancelled on Wednesday, and there is a risk that within a month NRL and AFL games will be closed to fans.

The NSW government said its Vivid Live festival in May would continue as planned, but the spread of the coronavirus would be carefully monitored.

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Fears over exposure to the coronavirus at the grand prix also prompted Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo and his Renault teammate Esteban Ocon to pull out of a media conference at the last minute on Wednesday.

“Our drivers were supposed to be with us for this event but, due to the situation, we’ve excused them for the occasion … I hope you understand why we are taking such measures,” team principal Cyril Abiteboul said.

If the F1 team members test positive, health officials will ­embark on an emergency “contact trace”, and anyone deemed to have had close contact will be ­required to self-isolate for 14 days.

1Ferrari team members preparing for this weekend’s Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne. Picture: David Geraghty

Given the close confines of the pit lane, this could affect not only McLaren and Haas, but other teams located nearby. “This scenario will have a big ­impact,” one source said.

Senior government sources said that in the event of a positive test the fate of the race rested on whether the transmission ­occurred overseas or in Melbourne.

While an overseas transmission is the most likely scenario given the trio’s recent arrival in Australia, a suspected domestic transmission could mean the event is closed to fans.

“This will have an impact on the event,” a senior source said. “But how big an impact, we just don’t know.”

The Australian understands that some Melbourne Grand Prix chiefs were unaware of the suspected outbreak until it was ­reported by the media.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Andrew Westacott said his organisation “has been informed of three team personnel presenting for precautionary testing, who have all subsequently been self-isolated’’.

“The AGPC is monitoring the situation in conjunction with Formula One and (world governing body) FIA,’’ Mr Westacott said.

F1 issued a statement earlier this week saying it was taking a scientific approach to handling the coronavirus crisis and was setting up an action plan to be followed if personnel were struck down.

Before last night’s coronavirus twist, Melbourne Grand Prix chairman Paul Little, a prominent business identity, insisted while the race was an ideal way to promote Victorian tourism to a global market, “you shouldn’t get the ­impression that has overtaken the health and safety aspect”.

“It’ll be a fun event, but it will be safe and healthy. We haven’t ­really spared any expense with time or people’s contribution in ensuring we can deliver that. We have a management plan in place that could cater with just about anything that could or may happen,” he told The Australian.

“As of today, it looks encouraging (for the race to happen as ­normal). But we won’t know.

“It really is a day at a time. This is very much planning on the run, I might say. So where we are today, might change tomorrow.”

The comments came after ­Victorian Premier Daniel ­Andrews warned there was an ­“inevitability” about the widespread closure of schools and ­industry in the state if the ­coronavirus crisis deepens and Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a travel ban on foreign nationals arriving from Italy, days after up to 150 Ferrari team members arrived in Melbourne for the grand prix.

Mr Westacott said ticket pre-sale numbers and corporate hospitality support was tracking in line or slightly ahead of the 2019 race, which an estimated 324,100 fans attended over four days, though he was unsure if all corporate supporters would attend given some companies had imposed travel bans on staff.

Tickets for the Paddock Club, considered the most prestigious corporate area at the track, are sold out and the precinct has been extended to three levels this year, with sponsorship from Marriott Bonvoy, Heineken and St Hugo wine.

Mr Little said corporate ­support had increased from 2019, including new global supporters such as Citigroup and Saudi ­Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil company.