FILE – In this March 12, 2020, file photo Renault driver Esteban Ocon of France waves as he arrives wearing a mask to the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne. The 2021 Australian Grand Prix has been canceled after local organizers and Formula One couldn’t come up with a compromise over Australia’s strict travel and quarantine issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
FILE – In this March 12, 2020, file photo Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain speaks during a press conference at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, where he questions the wisdom of staging the season-opening Formula One Grand Prix while other sports are canceling events because of the spreading coronavirus. The 2021 Australian Grand Prix has been canceled after local organizers and Formula One couldn’t come up with a compromise over Australia’s strict travel and quarantine issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
FILE – In this March 16, 2019, file photo, Formula One cars race on the circuit during the final practice session for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia. The 2021 Australian Grand Prix has been canceled after local organizers and Formula One couldn’t come up with a compromise over Australia’s strict travel and quarantine issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Grand Prix has been canceled after local organizers and Formula One couldn’t come up with a compromise over Australia’s strict travel and quarantine issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The race was postponed from its original season-opening spot on the F1 calendar on March 21 and had been rescheduled for Nov. 21.
The 2020 Australian GP at the Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne last March was called off at the last minute at the start of the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.
“It’s very disappointing that these much-loved events can’t proceed but this is the reality of the pandemic, but until we get much higher vaccination rates we cannot return to more normal settings,” Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula said.
“There’s a few months to go, but they need to plan, and they need to have contingencies in place. Given the very low national two-dose-vaccination numbers . . . we’re simply not in a position to give F1 management the sorts of guarantees and assurances and comfort that they need.”
Victorian state Premier Daniel Andrews all but confirmed its cancellation earlier in the day, saying running such large events is “very challenging” given Australia’s low vaccination rate and international travel restrictions.
