Coronavirus making Australian GP atmosphere "different" - Albon
Red Bull's Alex Albon says the 2020 Formula 1 season opener will feel "different" as emergency measures are introduced at the Australian Grand Prix because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Melbourne race is set to go ahead this weekend despite the developing situation regarding the spread of COVID-19 across the world.
Autograph sessions that were scheduled to be held at Albert Park will be replaced by Q&A interviews, and press events organised for the build-up to the race have been impacted, as teams implement measures to reduce interactions for their drivers.
Albon was speaking at Red Bull media event alongside his teammate Max Verstappen at Melbourne's Station Pier – where a 2m exclusion zone around the drivers was enforced during a press conference.
He said: "Even now walking around Melbourne it's obviously a different kind of atmosphere to what it's been like in the past.
"I mean I speak about the past, I've done one year. [But] it's going to be different.
"I'm not sure what's being put in place to be honest with you [regarding measures in the Albert Park paddock].
"But hopefully we can find the right balance between the drivers and the teams [on] the safety because it is obviously a serious problem, [while] also giving something to the fans to be able to interact with us in some way."
At least three F1 team personnel have been taken in to self-isolation while tests are conducted to see if they have contracted coronavirus.
Following Renault's 2020 livery launch event at Albert Park on Wednesday – where Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon took the covers of the RS20 – its drivers were withdrawn from an accompanying press conference.
Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul explained that the measure was being enforced "due to the situation" regarding coronavirus concerns.
"Obviously as we were planning this event, we were expecting a little bit more of a light atmosphere," Abiteboul said.
"Obviously I'm referring to the very particular circumstances in which we are in Australia and Melbourne.
"Usually it's a moment that we all love when we are racing in Formula 1, so I wanted to make a mention of that.
"I also wanted to say that our drivers were supposed to be with us for that event, but due to the situation, we've excused them from the occasion. I hope you understand why we are taking such measures."
Share Or Save This Story
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Alex Albon leaves fans in stitches with Red Bull joke in F1 "Grill The Grid" video
100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles
Baku upgrade will not fix Williams' 2026 F1 struggles - Alex Albon
Peloton-style racing could continue into Formula E’s Gen4 era
Arvid Lindblad admits F1 rookie season has exceeded expectations
Lance Stroll spotted driving ultra-rare £3million Aston Martin in Monaco
Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it?
Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it?
Top 10 rookie seasons in F1
Why F1 shouldn’t be hiding its most interesting characters
100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments