With your handling of the topic of Coronavirus, the formula 1 in Australia has harvested a Shitstorm. The Worries were at the latest after the positive Test of a McLaren employee, so large that a cancellation for many of the inevitable seemed. For many was incomprehensible, why the cancellation took place just prior to the start of the Friday workout, as many Fans were already at the track.
Other voices say that the formula 1 was not allowed to fly to Australia. This also includes Ex-team boss David Richards, who is now head of the British automobile Association heard: “I was honestly surprised to be told that the decision was not taken sooner”, says he .
For him, it was already a week before the planned Grand Prix is obvious that the Event would be inappropriate. “It would have been better for everyone if you had taken the Initiative and it would have been cancelled in advance, rather than at the last Minute, almost forced,” he says.
travel to Australia was the right one
FIA President Jean Todt defended the action of the formula 1: “I think it was the right decision to travel to Australia,” he says in an exclusive interview with ‘Motorsport-Total.com’. “When the decision came to leave, there was no reason not to go to Australia.”
That would develop the Situation in and around the Coronavirus with the positively tested McLaren employees so fast, no one could foresee. But that the cancellation had taken after the incident for so long, is for Todt explained: “The medical authorities have told us that there is no reason to change the program on the weekend.”
The FIA President was at this time with other projects of the Association on-the-go, but held by telephone contact to the person in charge in Melbourne. Until Friday morning there had been sufficient security that the race should not be held.
Todt and the question of guilt
A fault the Frenchman gives to the Situation to anyone: “It is the Easiest to accuse people in this time. A week later, there was in France a mayor election. And France was honestly said a lot more than Australia before,” he says. “I think it’s unfair to criticise what is happening in Australia.”
The question now is, how the formula 1 can avoid a repeat of the scenario. It is still unclear when the king class can start, but for Todt, it is clear that some flexibility and creativity is necessary. And: “it is Important that we are able to accept the wrong choice and error. Australia I don’t think this is a mistake.”
Nevertheless, it is necessary to learn from Melbourne and also from other races. He is reminiscent of the example of the rally Mexico which was canceled during the event: “I remember that I was in the night called, and it was on Tuesday in Trouble. Honestly, I don’t know the reason why we finished the rally on Saturday evening and not on Sunday,” he says.
“We wanted to find an answer to the emotions of the participants and the guide will not show, because the real need at this time to cancel the Sunday,” said Todt.
The detailed exclusive interview with FIA President Jean Todt is released on Monday on motorsport-total.com .
This article was written by Norman Fischer, Co-authors: Jonathan Noble, James Allen
*published The article “Todt defends against Australia-criticism: No reason for premature cancellation!” is from Motorsport-Total.com. Contact with the executives here.
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