Coronavirus: the organizers of the French GP want to be reassuring

paraphrasing Cyril Abiteboul on Canal+ last weekend, you would have to not live on planet Earth not to monitor the spread of the Coronavirus. 

Beyond the health risk, the disease has a very concrete impact on major sporting events since gatherings of more than 1000 people are prohibited in France. A decision which has already pushed for example the organizers of the Nogaro Easter Cups to postpone their big annual celebration to July 10-12. 

What about the Grand Prix of Formula 1 ? The meeting may well be set in more than 3 months, but we saw this Wednesday that a long delay did not reduce the risk of postponement, as evidenced by the fate of the Jakarta e-Prix which was initially scheduled to take place on June 6 and was ultimately postponed indefinitely.

Contacted by AUTOhebdo, Éric Boullier explains to us that the GIP Grand Prix de France – Le Castellet is in permanent contact with the public authorities, the governing bodies of motorsport, the world promoter of Formula 1 and the Circuit Paul Ricard.

« The safety and health of our spectators and partners, as well as those involved in Formula 1 and the media, remain a priority », Declares the general director of the French Grand Prix.

Former Lotus team principal and McLaren recalls that to date the ban on gatherings of more than 1000 people will end on April 15. “ In view of the elements and other information on the spread of the Coronavirus, nothing justifies calling into question the organization of the French Formula 1 GP », Says the boss of the event, scheduled for June 26-28, 2020.

If, however, the situation were to lead to a postponement or cancellation of the French round of the Formula 1 world championship, or to an organization behind closed doors, Boullier ensures that spectators will be able to have their Grand Prix access ticket refunded and /or ancillary products and services marketed by the GIP Grand Prix de France such as camping, shuttle, and parking spaces.