Brawn reveals the Australian GP could have gone ahead with 12 drivers

It looked as if for a while the Australian Grand Prix was about to go ahead with a decision made just hours before the first practice session was set to commence.

McLaren were the first team to drop out after one of their team member contracted coronavirus and other like Ferrari and Mercedes followed suit. The decision was ultimately taken to postpone the season opener amid health and safety concerns and since then the Bahrain and Vietnam Grands Prix have also fallen victim to the virus.

Despite the race not going ahead Ross Brawn has revealed the event could have gone ahead even with fewer teams than normal.

"We need twelve cars or more to run a championship race," Brawn told Sky Sports.

"That is the guideline of the FIA. In some cases, she would even choose to start with less, but the rules contain a twelve-car directive."

The Red Bull teams were prepared to go racing but after Ferrari and Mercedes pulled out joining McLaren there was not enough for the race to go ahead.