Vietnam Grand Prix in doubt as Italian travel restrictions hit

The Formula 1 Vietnam Grand Prix at a serious risk of cancellation as the Vietnam government suspend visa-free travel for Italian nationals.

Italians were one of 13-countries to be exempt from requiring a visa to visit Vietnam, but the recent escalation of the situation in Italy has changed this.

A government news release read, “The government of Vietnam has decided to temporarily suspend visa exemption for citizens from Italy from March 3 amid fast rising COVID-19 infections in the European country."

The change will affect not just Ferrari and AlphaTauri who are based in Italy, but also Haas and Alfa Romeo who use Ferrari power units and use Ferrari personnel across the course of a race weekend.

Tyre manufacturer Pirelli will also face potential difficulties.

Italians will now be required to have a visa for travel and need to sign health declarations and undergo checkups at all boarders into the Vietnam.

Earlier on Monday morning, MotoGP officially cancelled the opening two rounds of their season in Qatar and Thailand due to the large amount of Italians working within the paddock.

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