Hakkinen: "Potential for virus to spread within Formula 1 is enormous"

Mika Hakkinen believes the coronavirus has high "potential" to spread through the Formula 1 environment. To the former World Champion's relief, the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled. F1 bosses have also called off the following three races. As it stands, the Dutch Grand Prix is first in line, but that is likely to be pushed back. 

"As a World Champion I am huge fan of Formula 1, but nothing is more important than the health of our fans, team personnel, marshals, event staff, F1 and FIA employees," Hakkinen starts saying in his Unibet column. 

"Formula 1 is one big circus, and we travel together, sharing hotels, hire cars, restaurants and bars. The potential for coronavirus to spread in this environment is clear, and the situation has changed very quickly - particularly in Europe, where all the teams are based - in the past week."

Praise for McLaren

A McLaren team member tested positive for the coronavirus. As soon as this was announced, McLaren withdrew from the Australian Grand Prix. Hakkinen, who used to race for the British team, is pleased to hear the team putting welfare first. 

"After a member of his team tested positive for the virus, my good friend Zak Brown’s decision to withdraw McLaren from the Grand Prix was definitely the right one. As CEO of McLaren Racing, he is also a massive fan of the sport, but the wellbeing of team personnel has to come first," he added. 

"Ultimately most of the other teams agreed with Zak’s position, and finally the Australian authorities alongside Formula 1 and the FIA made the decision to cancel the race."