"We can't just shut down" over coronavirus

Ross Brawn says that Formula 1 can't "just shut down" because of the concerns over coronavirus, after doubts over some of the early season races. The Chinese Grand Prix has already been postponed and others are in danger as well, along with uncertainty over the appearances of some of the teams. 

Everything coming out of F1 right now has been positive regarding the Grands Prix, although it is yet to see if Ferrari and Alpha Tauri can make it, given they are Italian teams.

Brawn says that F1 must be careful but cannot just stop racing due to the virus, which has spread worldwide. He said at a F1 sponsorship event at Silverstone earlier this week: "We are all facing the challenge of the coronavirus. I think the key thing is to try and maintain the sport in the safest possible way. We can't take unnecessary risks, but we can't just shut down completely.

"I mean if the whole economy shut down completely, that would have a much more serious impact than the coronavirus. But the coronavirus is a very serious threat, so we have to take the necessary reactions.

"For every country we're working with the local health authorities to decide what are the appropriate actions to take.

"All the teams for instance are minimising the amount of staff that travel. So we're taking every sensible precaution we can, and we have to follow the advice of the health authority.

"At the moment, the first three races are going ahead. But this is a situation that is changing day by day. So we have to react and we have to respond accordingly."