Formula One: Australian Grand Prix cancelled for second year in a row

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland, bottom, leads his teammate Lewis Hamilton of Britain and the rest of the pack during the start of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne in March of 2019 Photo: AAP via AP Photo/Rick Rycroft

6 July 2021 12:51pm

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Broken down negotiations over a quarantine hub for drivers is reportedly the reason the Australian Grand Prix is set to be cancelled for a second year in a row.

In March 2020, the Australian Grand Prix was called off at the last minute as the virus began taking a hold on Australian soil.

Melbourne’s coveted race was initially pushed to November of this year, after COVID-19 put a halt to plans to have it at its traditionally scheduled March time. The hope was to have the event when restrictions would be eased off.

Due to strict quarantine arrangements for overseas travellers that are still in play, the race has run into some scheduling issues.

A fly-in, fly-out scheme had been reportedly requested by drivers, whereby drivers, team officials and staff would have a bio-secure hub set up to avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

The tightly packed F1 calendar means that a quarantine period in Melbourne would force drivers to miss other races.

CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation Andrew Westacott will be joining Minister for Sport Martin Pakula to talk to media at 3:00pm AEST.