Formula 1 is tracking the ongoing situation with Australia’s devastating bushfires ahead of the Grand Prix in March.
The disaster which has struck New South Wales and Victoria hardest has killed 25 people and led to air quality levels dropping substantially in the major cities of Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, where the F1 race takes place.
Already, organisers of this month’s Australian Open tennis major – also held in Melbourne – have announced plans to move matches indoors should the smoke and haze become too bad.
And though there is still over two months until the 2020 season opener at Albert Park, with no end to the bushfires crisis in sight, it is forcing F1 to consider contingency plans.
As for the relief effort, Lewis Hamilton and Aussie favourite Daniel Ricciardo have both pledged to help with the latter auctioning off his race suit from the race to raise funds.
