"Business as usual" for Australian GP despite raging bushfires

Organisers of the Australian Grand PRix say that the event is not in doubt as bushfires rage across the country. Australia is suffering right now due to extreme temperatures causing massive fires to spread across the island, at the cost of homes and lives.

Despite this, the boss of the race, Andrew Westacott, says that the event should not be affected by the fires.

He told the PA Sports news agency: "Melbourne itself isn't impacted by the fires, they're very much to the east, 200 to 300 kilometres away at least.

"It's really centred upon the changing wind conditions that forces a degradation of air quality. But with the timing of our event two months away, we are treating it as business as usual."

Albert Park in Melbourne is the usual host of the season opener, with Bahrain in 2010 being the last other event to host the first race of the year.