The other sagas from F1's trip to Melbourne

The coronavirus crisis is challenging the modern way of life like never before and it has already had a defining impact on the 2020 Formula 1 season.

The dramatic cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix will forever be the story of what should have been F1's 25th race at Albert Park, but before events took a serious turn when a McLaren team member tested positive for COVID-19, there was some semblance of normality around the chaos.

The meeting may have been cut short, but there was just enough time for the next chapters in several sagas that started rumbling in pre-season to unfold.

Let's start with the Ferrari 2019 engine 'settlement' that enraged the seven teams not running the manufacturer's power units after its deal with the FIA was announced just minutes before the end of winter testing.

It emerged last week that there had been an exchange of correspondence between the non-Ferrari/Ferrari-powered teams and the FIA, which apparently expressed serious concern at the situation from the former camp, and frustration with the tone emanating from those teams in the latter.

The seven squads were set to hold a joint press conference on the subject in Melbourne, however this was abandoned due the severity of the coronavirus situation. But the topic nevertheless came up regularly during the media briefings the day before the race was called off.

"I trust my team to do the right things, within the regulations, at all time" Sebastian Vettel

"I think that [the FIA] would argue that they have come to their conclusion based on the statutes, or the regulations that they have to operate against," Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams said of the governing body's position in the affair.

"The seven teams that are involved in this conversation with the FIA just want transparency and to know what that settlement was. And so, that's what we're pushing for."

When asked if she thought that transparency regarding the full details of the settlement would be forthcoming, she intriguingly said: "We have to wait and see - I believe it's up to Ferrari to approve that disclosure."

In his position as a Ferrari driver, Sebastian Vettel was asked for his view on the matter. The four-time world champion said he understood the matter to be "cleared", before adding: "For me it's very simple. Obviously I trust my team to do the right things, within the regulations, at all time. I think we all trust, all drivers, the governing body as in the FIA, to do their job for all teams on the grid."

As Ferrari's closest rival in 2019, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton made it clear he wasn't best pleased with the current state of the situation, saying "I think it could have been handled better". But the six-time world champion insisted "that's really something that should be directed to Toto [Wolff]".

It later emerged that Mercedes is no longer a part of the seven-team camp, and will not remain part of any further action. But assuming F1 can return from its current, unexpected hiatus, the calls to address the unanswered questions regarding the Ferrari engine settlement will surely return to the top of the paddock soap opera bill.

The most notable tech development from winter testing - Mercedes' DAS system - was also discussed in Melbourne. Valtteri Bottas said the team would have been "happy to run it" in Australia, but at the same time he acknowledged it had to "calculate the possible risk of it being taken away".

The reason why running DAS was risky for Mercedes was because if it uses the system during any on-track sessions, that opens up the possibility that another team will file a protest and the race stewards would have to judge its legality for the first time. Only event stewards can determine if a car is definitively in breach of the rules.

It has since been suggested that Red Bull would have protested Mercedes over DAS had the reigning champion squad used its innovation in Melbourne.

The coronavirus suspension does afford more time for rival squads looking to implement their version, but - as well as the difficulties of keeping factory work up when workers cannot leave home in many countries across Europe - such an approach would be costly. Racing Point technical director Andy Green has already said there is "no chance" his team will pursue the idea.

But it is ready to roll on the Mercedes if and when F1 2020 gets going again. So, as with all the topics covered here from last week's truncated event, it will eventually become a talking point once again.

Sticking with Racing Point, the team had caused a stir at the first Barcelona test when it revealed its RP20 has a striking similarity to Mercedes' W10 car from 2019. The team showed well in testing and was expected to lead the midfield in Melbourne.

But Racing Point drivers Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll played down the team's chances of getting anywhere near the top three squads, which Ferrari had suggested could happen once the season got underway.

Daniel Ricciardo was among the drivers quizzed on potential track changes, which the Renault driver said he was "definitely for" if the assessment suggested a different layout would offer more places to pass

"I think we definitely have a good car, but I think the top cars are still quite a bit ahead," Perez said when asked if Racing Point would be a podium contender this year. But like the DAS scenario, the RP20 remains ready to go - and it would have been great to see just where it would have placed in the Albert Park race.

Racing Point has forged a reputation as a team that shines with limited resources, and it will be intriguing to see what it can achieve now its financial problems have been eased.

Another topic discussed by high-profile figures last weekend was the Albert Park track itself, as there is an expectation that the circuit will be resurfaced either in 2020 or next year. Part of that plan is likely to involve an assessment of potential changes to the layout to improve overtaking - which has been an issue in recent Australian GPs.

Home hero Daniel Ricciardo was among the drivers quizzed on potential changes, which the Renault driver said he was "definitely for" if the assessment suggested a different layout would offer more places to pass.

Hamilton agreed with Ricciardo, saying he was "definitely [keen] for them adding some really cool modifications", but Vettel pointed out there is risk of making costly changes before the 2021 cars are seen on-track, as they are intended to improve F1's racing anyway.

"In a way it would be sad to change," said Vettel.

"I get the point but I don't know, obviously next year it's supposed to change a lot in terms of racing, so maybe it's wise to wait for that before you rebuild the whole track. [It] might also be the cheaper option - let us spend the money on the cars before you spend the money on the track.

"I think it's probably best to wait and see what happens next year and then we'll see. If they make the track even nicer then go ahead but usually with those things they end up doing it not so nice."

But the coronavirus-caused cancellation could yet prove to be a more significant challenge for the Australian Grand Prix Corporation when it comes to making any potential changes. The race is surely likely to take a financial hit as a result of the cancellation, as it is not expected to rejoin the rejigged calendar.

The roads that the race uses are also public highways, which would have to be closed again to allow them to be resurfaced, and this would further disrupt a city that bore the brunt of a championship's struggles with the global pandemic. Support for the works may well be harder to come by as a result.

Thanks to the effective cancellation of normal life for the immediate future, it will be quite a while before the next chapters in these storylines are told.