“Formula 1 is adept at moving people around the globe,” says Travis Auld, the director of the Australian Grand Prix. “We do not expect any impact on our race.”
“The drivers will be there, the mechanics will be there, and the team principals will be there as well,” Auld continues. “They have been given priority.” Instead of traveling through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha, they are opting for routes via Singapore or Hong Kong.
The Formula 1 cars have already arrived in Melbourne by container, where the first two practice sessions are scheduled for Friday. Saturday will feature the third practice and qualifying, followed by the race on Sunday.
Races are set to take place in the Middle East on April 12 and 19, with the Bahrain GP and the Saudi Arabian GP, respectively. Formula 1 is closely monitoring the situation in those countries, it was reported on Saturday.
Last weekend, the tire testing weekend for manufacturer Pirelli in Bahrain was already canceled. The F1 tires were supposed to be tested on the wet Bahrain circuit on Saturday and Sunday, but that proved impossible due to safety concerns.
