😷Australian GP called off after McLaren’s coronavirus bombshell

[Forward to a friend]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [RSS]( The coronavirus pandemic truly hit home in the Formula 1 paddock on Thursday, as a McLaren team member received the bad news we were all dreading – a positive test result. Our thoughts are with the individual, with best wishes for a full recovery, but the news carries a far-wider implication: How can the Australian Grand Prix go ahead as planned? McLaren has already withdrawn from the race, and one can only speculate for the amount of contact that the individual has had within his own team, as well as those outside. And it’s not just in Melbourne, as one assumes they travelled on the long journey from the UK earlier this week on a plane full of people and colleagues from around the paddock… With major sports leagues cancelling events, or running them behind closed doors, all around the world, it’s frankly odd that F1 dithered in the face of the inevitable. Finally, it seems like commonsense will prevail and the race will be called off shortly. Charles Bradley, Global Editor in Chief [motorsport.com]( E D I T O R ' S C H O I C E [Australian GP set to be called off over coronavirus threat]( The Australian Grand Prix is set to be called off following a team meeting in Melbourne on Thursday night, high level sources have revealed. J O N A T H A N N O B L E [McLaren F1 team withdraws from Australian GP due to coronavirus]( McLaren has withdrawn from the Australian Grand Prix after one of its team members tested positive for coronavirus. A L E X K A L I N A U C K A S [The nightmare F1 was never going to avoid]( Despite its defiance in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, reality has hit at the heart of the F1 paddock. McLaren has withdrawn from the Australian Grand Prix after a team member was diagnosed with the virus... J O N A T H A N N O B L E [F1 drivers will "pull handbrake" if virus situation worsens]( Sebastian Vettel says Formula 1 drivers would have no qualms in "pulling the handbrake" on the Australian Grand Prix if the coronavirus situation escalates. J O N A T H A N N O B L E [Hamilton: "Shocking" that Australian GP is still on]( World champion Lewis Hamilton says it is "shocking" that Formula 1 has gone ahead with the Australian Grand Prix amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Download the new Motorsport app today! Get all the lates news, photos, live coverage, insights and stats from your favorite racing series: Formula 1, MotoGP, WRC, Formula E, WEC, Indycar NASCAR and many more. Available on D A V I D M A L S H E R - L O P E Z [IMSA postpones Sebring 12 Hours to November]( The coronavirus threat and subsequent travel restrictions from Europe to the U.S. has persuaded IMSA to move its Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring to November. D A V I D M A L S H E R - L O P E Z [WEC’s Sebring 1000-mile race canceled amid travel ban]( The FIA World Endurance Championship's Sebring round scheduled for next week, in a double bill with IMSA’s 12 Hour race, has been canned after the U.S. banned travelers from 26 countries in mainland Europe. J I M U T T E R [NASCAR races at Homestead postponed due to coronavirus]( At this time, the March 20-22 NASCAR race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway has been postponed due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Received this email from a friend? Sign up to receive the INSIDER Newsletter from Motorsport.com which includes the latest news and inside views, direct from the experts. [Subscribe]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [RSS]( Copyright © 2020 Motorsport.com, Inc., All rights reserved. Top news of the week. Our mailing address is: Motorsport.com, Inc. 5972 NE 4th AvenueMiami, FL 33137 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. Copyright © MOTORSPORT NETWORK. All rights reserved.