MONTMELO, Spain, Feb 26 – Formula One teams were trying to focus on the second session of winter testing in Barcelona on Wednesday while casting worrying glances towards the spread of coronavirus with the message: “We are concerned, but there’s no need to panic”.

As veteran driver Robert Kubica steered his Alfa Romeo to the day’s best time at Montmelo, talk in the paddock was of growing fears over the spread of the virus which has killed over 2,700 people and infected more than 80,000 in 34 countries.

The F1 world championship, which gets under way in Melbourne on March 15, had already lost the Chinese Grand Prix from its schedule.

Ferrari, whose headquarters are at Maranello in northern Italy, one of the areas affected by the COVID-19, insisted that the team was taking all sensible precautions.

“Of course it concerns us,” admitted Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto.

“Some of the team postponed their flights in order to ensure that all concerns were addressed correctly.

“But there is no panic. It’s just a matter of making sure we get it right. We coordinate with Formula One and the International Automobile Federation (FIA). The team is very careful and conscious of the situation.”

With 12 deaths and 400 people infected, Italy is the European country worst hit by the outbreak.

Ferrari announced on Monday that they had temporarily shuttered their museums in Maranello and Modena, restricted the access of its employees residing or having visited the affected areas, and suspended visits from outside as well as non-essential business trips.

The AlphaTauri team, which is also based in Italy, in Faenza, south of the infected areas, say that the cleaning of their factory has increased while employees and sub-contractors are assessed.

– Able to travel –

In coming weeks, questions are expected to be raised over air links or even closed borders.

“We don’t know if (the team members currently present in Barcelona) will be able to return. If they return, we don’t know if they will be able to travel to Australia,” said AlphaTauri’s French driver Pierre Gasly.

Although the Chinese Grand Prix, originally scheduled for April 19 in Shanghai, has been postponed to a date to be announced, the inaugural Vietnam Grand Prix in Hanoi “will take place as planned” on April 5, said circuit chief Le Ngoc Chi.

“We are of course monitoring the situation closely and will notify customers and the media if there is a change,” he said.

However, two events planned to take place in the Vietnamese capital in the weeks before the race have already been postponed — a marathon on March 29 as well as an international badminton tournament, which is also a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics, slated for March 24-29.

The FIA said it continues to “closely monitor the development of the situation”.

Wednesday test times:

Robert Kubica (POL/Alfa Romeo) 1:16.942 (53 laps), Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:17.347 (84), Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point) 1:17.428 (84), Daniil Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri) 1:17.456 (61), Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri) 1:17.540 (25), Alexander Albon (THA/Red Bull) 1:17.550 (29), Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:17.562 (89), Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point) 1:17.787 (43), Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:18.100 (90), Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:18.113 (84), Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 1:18.214 (53), Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren) 1:18.221 (46), Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:18.244 (80), Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams) 1:18.300 (48), George Russell (GBR/Williams) 1:18.535 (59), Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:18.670 (107), Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) 1:18.826 (57), Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1:19.515 (51), Esteban Ocon (FRA/Renault) 1:21.542 (74)

(Visited 12 times, 12 visits today)

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

u2018Commanderu2019 Okoth through to Tokyo Olympics

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Cavaliers sink 76ers as Embiid hurts shoulderrn

rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 43 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn ‘It’s not over,’ Guardiola warns City after Madrid winrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 33 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Three things we learned from Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 2rn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 9 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Tousart gives Lyon edge against below-par Ronaldo and Juventusrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 9 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Jesus, Bruyne give Man City comeback win at Real Madridrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 10 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Formula One faces testing times over coronavirusrn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 29 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn

• SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League…
• Wanyama, Samatta teammates at Aston Villa? by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 u2013 Aston Villa has emerged as…
• Gor boss Polack explains Kipkurui absence by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 u2013 Gor Mahia head coach Steve…
• Everton to terminate SportPesa contract by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side…
• Lavatsa makes Gor return as window shuts by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 u2013 Edwin Lavatsa has marked a…

rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Nadal cruises into quarter-finals at Acapulco tennis

rn rn rn Gamern rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Cavaliers sink 76ers as Embiid hurts shoulder

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

‘It’s not over,’ Guardiola warns City after Madrid win

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Three things we learned from Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 2

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Tousart gives Lyon edge against below-par Ronaldo and Juventus

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL ARSENAL FINISH TOP FOUR IN 2019/20 EPL SEASON?

ntt
• NO
ntt
• YES
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Jesus, Bruyne give Man City comeback win at Real Madrid

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Formula One faces testing times over coronavirus

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Rangers beat Braga to reach Europa League last 16

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Ireland vs Italy Six Nations tie postponed over coronavirus

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Prize money for Safari Golf tour increased

rn rn rn Golfrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nadal cruises into quarter-finals at Acapulco tennisrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Cavaliers sink 76ers as Embiid hurts shoulderrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn ‘It’s not over,’ Guardiola warns City after Madrid winrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Three things we learned from Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 2rn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Tousart gives Lyon edge against below-par Ronaldo and Juventusrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn

• SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League…
• Wanyama, Samatta teammates at Aston Villa? by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 u2013 Aston Villa has emerged as…
• Gor boss Polack explains Kipkurui absence by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 u2013 Gor Mahia head coach Steve…
• Everton to terminate SportPesa contract by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side…
• Lavatsa makes Gor return as window shuts by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 u2013 Edwin Lavatsa has marked a…

rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nadal cruises into quarter-finals at Acapulco tennisrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Cavaliers sink 76ers as Embiid hurts shoulderrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn ‘It’s not over,’ Guardiola warns City after Madrid winrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Three things we learned from Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 2rn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Tousart gives Lyon edge against below-par Ronaldo and Juventusrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */