
The nightmare F1 was never going to avoid but still walked into
Despite its defiance in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, reality has hit at the heart of the F1 paddock. McLaren has withdrawn from the Australian Grand Prix after a team member was diagnosed with the virus, and now questions are being posed as to what happens next - and whether this should have even happened in the first place
The world is facing a practically unprecedented situation in the modern age. The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak is having an impact - on a global scale - that modern societies and economies have not faced before.
There was no chance Formula 1's 2020 season was going to avoid being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.
A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.
Why 2020 will be Racing Point's true test of progress
Australian GP organisers pushing on with F1 race plans, fans barred
More from Alex Kalinauckas

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Japanese Grand Prix
10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Japanese Grand Prix 10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Japanese Grand Prix

Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

F1 driver contracts: How long are all the drivers' contracts?
F1 driver contracts: How long are all the drivers' contracts? F1 driver contracts: How long are all the drivers' contracts?

F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen dominant in FP1 as Red Bull hunt constructors' crown
F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen dominant in FP1 as Red Bull hunt constructors' crown F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen dominant in FP1 as Red Bull hunt constructors' crown

The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP

10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Singapore Grand Prix
10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Singapore Grand Prix 10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Latest news

Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership
Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership

How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell

FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26
FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26 FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26

WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future
WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future

The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team
The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1

The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1

Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.