Formula 1’s first ever visit to Vietnam is set to be delayed until later in the season due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
The Vietnam Grand Prix, which is currently scheduled as the third round on the 2020 Formula 1 calendar, looks set to follow the same fate as the Chinese GP, which has been postponed indefinitely.
Whilst no final decision on Vietnam’s fate has been made just yet, a source close to the race told MotorsportWeek.com that its postponement would be announced in due course unless the current situation rapidly improves – although that seems unlikely.
The country has suspended visa waivers for UK citizens, with visas only accessible via government-approved tour companies, therefore restricting access.
Whilst Vietnam has only reported 30 cases of Covid-19, it’s believed that figure is far higher with Vietnam sharing a 796-mile border with China and the location of the grand prix, in Hanoi, is just 200-miles south of that border.
The virus has already had an impact on F1 with the Bahrain GP taking the decision to race behind closed doors. The season-opening Australian GP this weekend is however going ahead as normal.