Formula 1: Vietnamese Grand Prix cancelled due to virus

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The 2020 Vietnamese Grand Prix will not be held due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said on Friday.

In a statement, the F1 Vietnam GP said that this year's Vietnamese Grand Prix will be canceled due to the virus after many talks were held with FIA -- the international governing body of motor sports -- and Formula 1 World Championship and Vietnamese motor sports authorities.

Vietnam was set to host its first ever F1 Grand Prix this season at the Hanoi Circuit on April 5.

But in March, the Vietnamese GP was postponed as part of measures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Then the Formula 1 revised its calendar for the 2020 season and the competition started with the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg on July 5 rather than the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne previously scheduled for March 15.

The Vietnamese GP in Hanoi had to be the third race of the 2020 season before the F1 revised its calendar due to of the pandemic.