Lewis Hamilton has spoken out against the decision to race the Australian Grand Prix. Photo / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton has spoken out against the decision to race the Australian Grand Prix. Photo / Getty Images
Defending F1 champion Lewis Hamilton has taken aim at why the season-opening race at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne is still going ahead.
The six-time world champion sent a livid message to the governing body of the sport, saying the only reason the event was still going ahead as of Thursday afternoon was because "cash is king".
In a media availability on Thursday afternoon, Hamilton took aim at the F1 for not cancelling the event with the coronavirus pandemic hitting the grid.
On Wednesday night, three F1 team members had been placed into isolation over concerns they may have contracted coronavirus while two more from Haas have been tested on Thursday.
With events and leagues across the world being cancelled, including the bombshell that the NBA was being suspended, countless other events are being held behind closed doors.
Similarly, the F1 had already announced the Bahrain GP would go ahead without any spectators allowed.
But with the season opening Grand Prix already marred by the spread of the virus, Hamilton has unloaded on FIA.
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes during winter testing. Photo / Getty Images
"I am very, very surprised we are here," he said according to Motorsport.com. "I think it's great that we can have races, but for me it's shocking that we're all sitting in this room.
"There are so many fans here already today. It seems like the rest of the world is reacting, probably a bit late, but already this morning we have seen [US President Donald] Trump shutting down the borders from Europe to the United States. The NBA is being suspended and F1 continues to go on.
"I saw Jackie Stewart this morning, looking fit and healthy and well, and some people as I walked into the paddock, some elderly individuals. So it's a concern for the people here. It's definitely concerning for me."
Pushed further, Hamilton continued to say that he wanted everyone to stay safe, use hand sanitiser and take precautions to stay safe but finished with a pointed message for the F1.
"Cash is king, but honestly I don't know. I can't really add much," he said.
Even the F1 racers are wondering why the Melbourne grand prix is still going ahead https://t.co/TkZejuzXPV
Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel were also in the press conference but they both said they have to trust in the governing body's take.
"It's fair to ask yourself why are we here, but you have to trust the FIA and everybody to take precautions as much as they can," Vettel said.
For Ricciardo: "I have to put my trust in the FIA. We may all have opinions but at the end of the day I'm here to compete and race cars. I'm following guidelines and came here knowing we were going to compete. I've got my head down and focusing on the race.
"I know it's real, but as Seb touched on, we don't really know the extent of it, and how quickly it can spread, but it's left to the others for now.
"The racer in me is happy that I'm here for sure."
Hamilton arrived in Australia with a mask earlier in the week, with an Instagram Story captioned "Already one man coughing (sic) on this flight. Nope!!"
It's a strong statement from the world champion and there is still time for the race to be cancelled with health authorities reportedly prepared to stop this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne as Australian sporting codes scramble to contain the coronavirus outbreak, according to AAP.
With the five F1 team members already in isolation, should they return positive tests to coronavirus, Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton is prepared to stop the race.
"If [the tests] turn up positive, we need to consider what it means for their close contacts and if they have a number of close contacts across a number of crews, then those individuals need to be quarantined," Sutton told Melbourne radio station 3AW.
"If that effectively shuts down the race, then so be it. We'll make that call."
