How the pandemic is continuing to bite F1

When Formula 1 announced its ‘record breaking’ 22-race calendar for 2020 back in August of 2019, none of us could have anticipated the seismic events that would overtake global sport. It’s been an other-worldly, Hollywood-esque experience.

Two years later, the world is a different place. While it is tempting for those fortunate enough to be double vaccinated to sit back and enjoy one of Formula 1’s greatest duels, it can feel like indulgent escapism.

A great deal of misery has ensued. Fans and industry figures alike have lost their lives. For some, the question arises as to whether they may ever see F1 visit their shores again.

PLUS: The signs that F1 must not ignore in its post-pandemic transformation

That was the very question put to me by Sky News Australia following July’s announcement that the grand prix in Melbourne, cancelled in 2020 and then postponed to later this year, was again being deleted from the schedule.

A country which had eliminated COVID in the community through border closures, mandatory hotel quarantines and a series of short, sharp lockdowns, was facing the consequences of a federal government lacking in urgency when it came to getting people jabbed.

Ex-Formula 1 chairman Chase Carey addresses crowds in a public press conference to announce the Australian GP's cancellation in 2020

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Australia’s vaccination ‘stroll out’ meant that by 6 July, the date on which the Melbourne race was cancelled for a second time, a mere 7.7% of the population were fully vaccinated. On the same date, the UK could report 51.3% of its population double jabbed, a key factor in enabling a fully subscribed British Grand Prix to take place.

At the time of writing Australia is facing a surge in COVID cases. The delta variant is tightening its grip in Sydney and lockdowns are being extended. Under normal circumstances the freight should be leaving for Melbourne 2022 in 25 weeks – the blink of an eye in ‘pandemic time’.

Given the government is reluctant to open the borders until 80% of the population is fully vaccinated, yet won’t fix a date, Australian GP CEO Andrew Westacott must already fear the prospect of a third cancellation next season.

Confidence remains high that the US GP will go ahead, despite a delta-driven surge in cases and deaths there, but significant questions persist regarding Mexico and Brazil

China, Singapore, Japan and Canada have joined Australia in cancelling their races for a second year. Confidence remains high that the US GP will go ahead, despite a delta-driven surge in cases and deaths there, but significant questions persist regarding Mexico and Brazil.

The USA had fully vaccinated well over half its population by the end of August, but Mexico and Brazil were lagging well behind at less than a quarter. Worse still, hospitalisation rates are high and Mexico’s death rate is the fourth highest in the world at 7.8%.

While the promoters in China and Singapore battened down the hatches and Vietnam’s event sank without trace, Suzuka rolled over in the face of government restrictions on travel and spectator attendance.

Valtteri Bottas takes the lead at the start ahead of Sebastian Vettel at the 2019 Japanese GP

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Meanwhile, Canada’s promoter decided to sell up. With a growing public and media outcry over slow ticket refunds from 2020, promoter Octane Racing Group, headed by Francois Dumontier, was sold to telecommunications and media giant Bell Canada in April. ‘Financial stability’ and ‘investment’ were the key words in the press statement, suggesting that things were far from rosy after two years of silence on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Dumontier told me at the end of 2020 that a second cancellation would be problematic, and so it proved. Fortunately, Bell’s deep pockets and commitment to F1 through its broadcasting rights on the TSN and RDS TV channels saved the day.

It can only be imagined how fast some of the other promoters must be paddling to keep their heads above water until normality returns.

A view of the start gantry and equipment for operating the start procedure at the Canadian GP

Photo by: Jose Rubio / Motorsport Images