Source: World Wide of Sports Channel 9
Both the Australian Formula One and MotoGP races will be cancelled for a second straight year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Organisers had been hoping to stage the races without the usual 14-day quarantine period, instead bringing the personnel into the country in a bubble environment, as other countries have done since the sport resumed 12 months ago.
Neither Formula One or MotoGP would agree to a two-week quarantine period, given the condensed nature of their schedules.
An official announcement is expected this afternoon. Wide World of Sports understands Victorian premier Daniel Andrews will blame the slow vaccination rollout for the cancellation, along with the recent decision to slash international arrivals by half.
Victoria has a contract
to host the Formula One race until 2025, and the MotoGP until 2026. It’s
understood negotiations will now take place over returning both races
to the respective calendars in 2022, although whether the Formula One
race will return to its traditional season-opening spot is unknown.
The Albert Park track recently underwent a major upgrade in preparation for this year’s race, with a number of corners modified or removed altogether, in an attempt to improve the racing.
The Formula One race had been scheduled for November 21 at the Albert Park circuit, with the MotoGP set down for Phillip Island on October 24.
