FIA and Formula 1 slated after chaotic showing in Melbourne

Less than a week ago, we were still building up to the new Formula 1 season. A lot has changed in the last few days, and the FIA has taken a big hit in its public image with the way they went about cancelling the Australian Grand Prix

The future of the Bahrain and Vietnam Grands Prix were already in doubt, but there was one clear demand for the race in Melbourne; if every team could make it to Australia, the race could just go ahead. Even though Italy closed its borders, Ferrari and AlphaTauri were allowed to travel and everything seemed in place for the F1 season to get underway.

Then, reports came out McLaren had quarantined a team member, as were four members of Haas. The organisers of the Grand Prix decided to wait for test results, which was positive for coronavirus for the McLaren engineer.

For the outside world, it was clear the Australian Grand Prix shouldn't be going ahead anymore, especially after McLaren announced their withdrawal from the race. The FIA and Liberty Media were still pushing for the race to go ahead, however.

Limbo

There was an incredible amount of chaos and uncertainty about the fate of the Grand Prix. Each report coming out of the paddock contradicted the last one, and the F1 and FIA remained quiet throughout this whole process. McLaren had quarantined 14 team members, in the meantime, and BBC Sport reported multiple drivers had already gone to the airport to leave the country. Still, no official statements on Thursday night.

On Friday morning, fans already started coming to Albert Park as there were no signs of Free Practice 1 having been cancelled. People were stood in front of the entrance of the circuit, which was still closed. Then, two hours before FP1 was set to start, the FIA finally released a statement: the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled.

Uncertainty and unclarity

The FIA's slow system got painfully exposed under the Australian sun. There were countless moments when the organisation could and should have decided to cancel the race, but it didn't happen. Only when the fans were already out in large numbers in front of Albert Park's gates, the FIA acted. 

Chase Carey called it a 'fluid situation', while nearly every other motorsport organisation in the world had already suspended all racing.

That same uncertainty is now reflected on the Formula 1 calendar. It's no surprise the FIA, Liberty Media and the teams still have to sit down and discuss the fate of the 2020 season, and the way all governing bodies have gone about it is rather telling. The one organisation says F1 will race at the start of May, while the other it won't be until the end of May. Meanwhile, the people at the Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix (both in May) are kept in the dark. 

Slated by the media

The FIA were already getting a hard time from media around the world with the way they went about the Ferrari engine investigation, and last weekend has only made things worse for the organisation. FIA president Jean Todt didn't cover himself in glory either, tweeting about a business meeting he had in the middle of the Australian Grand Prix uncertainty.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf stated the FIA "embarrassed themselves", while German paper Bild even called for an investigation into the 'hour-long and F1 unworthy spectacle': "Whoever is responsible for these theatrics has to be decided independently." L'Equipe and Gazzetta dello Sport didn't hold back either.

The French paper spoke of 'mismanagement of the highest order' while Gazzetta underline the pure chaos in Melbourne on the weekend. 

One thing is for sure: we have to hope the FIA can be more effective in the next few months so the F1 season can get back on track as soon as it is safe to do so!