The Formula 1 season opener in Australia can go ahead: However, former team boss Günther Steiner is certain that the premier class only narrowly avoided cancellation.
It is now certain that the Formula 1 season opener in Australia can take place as planned despite the conflict in the Middle East. However, former Haas team boss Günther Steiner believes that the premier class only narrowly avoided cancellation.
“If the war had broken out earlier and happened last Thursday or Friday, something would certainly have got stuck on the way to Australia,” says Steiner in an interview with sport.de, reminding us of the importance of the Middle East for logistics.
“Most of the freight is delivered by Qatar Airways, which has the largest cargo fleet in the world, taking off in Europe and then making a stopover in Qatar. At any other time, it would have been possible for everything to be stuck in Qatar and for no cars to make it to Melbourne.”
The equipment for the season opener is transported to Australia about a week and a half before the race, so most of the cargo was already there when the US and Israel began their attacks on Iran on Saturday.
Günther Steiner: “No worries” about China and Japan
The only problem is therefore almost exclusively with the personnel, who have to find alternative flight routes to arrive in Melbourne on time. Apparently, Mercedes, McLaren, and Pirelli personnel were even stuck in Bahrain due to the planned tire test, which was canceled at short notice after the attacks.
“But the start of the season is not in question at all,” Steiner emphasizes. This also applies to the next two races in China and Japan, which are also scheduled to take place as planned. “Plans are certainly already being made for how to proceed.”
“Formula 1 is good at seizing opportunities when they arise. The logisticians are certainly already working on finding new routes. There’s no need to worry about that.” It remains unclear whether the races in Bahrain (April 12) and Saudi Arabia (April 19) will be able to take place.
What alternative race tracks are possible?
If there is no ceasefire by then, it will not be possible to race there, says Steiner. “It’s just too dangerous. If it’s not 100 percent safe, Formula 1 won’t take any risks. Then you just have to cancel a sporting event.”
“You can’t risk lives just because we like to see race cars,” the former Haas team boss makes clear. However, it won’t be necessary to cancel everything, as there are alternative race tracks available, such as Istanbul and Portimao, as well as Imola and Mugello.
A spontaneous return to Germany, as was the case during the coronavirus pandemic in the 2020 season, is questionable, however. But Günther Steiner is already convinced: “The rumor mill will surely start soon.”
