Singapore F1 organisers Monday said it was “not feasible” to hold the race behind closed doors, threatening further problems for the coronavirus-ravaged season.
After 10 races were
cancelled or postponed, Formula One bosses are aiming to begin the season with
two races in Austria in July, both without fans. Races in other countries are
also expected to go ahead in closed venues.
But the Singapore
Grand Prix, scheduled for September, is a nighttime street race around the
city-state’s waterfront, where it would be challenging to keep spectators away.
Organisers said
they have been in talks with Formula One, the Singapore government and others
involved “to assess different possibilities” for holding the race.
But a spokesperson
added that “as the Singapore F1 race is a street circuit, it is not feasible to
conduct the race behind closed doors”.
Ferrari’s Sebastian
Vettel won last year’s race, which drew 268,000 spectators over three days, a
substantial portion of them coming from overseas.
Work on the street
circuit, which requires “considerable temporary infrastructure”, typically
takes three months, organisers said.
“We will continue
to keep a close watch on developments. Our utmost priority remains the
wellbeing and safety of our fans, staff, volunteers, and all Singaporeans,” the
spokesperson said.
Like many other
countries, Singapore has ordered the closure of most businesses, advised people
to stay at home, and banned large gatherings as it battles a virus
outbreak.
The tiny Southeast
Asian country has reported more than 28,000 infections, most of them among
foreign workers living in crowded dormitories.
Officials say they
may start relaxing some of the curbs from early June.