Marko: Politicians guilty of scaremongering over coronavirus
Marko: Politicians guilty of scaremongering over coronavirus
Red Bull boss Helmut Marko has slammed the “scaremongering” by politicians with regards to the coronavirus outbreak, and has played down concerns about how it will affect the rest of the 2020 F1 season.
Worldwide, over 4,000 people have died due to the flu-like virus, which has impacted events all over the world, with the Chinese Grand Prix cancelled and the Bahrain GP set to go ahead with no fans in attendance.
In Italy, a lockdown is now in place as residents have been asked to stay in their homes, while all Serie A football has been postponed for a month.
This affects Ferrari’s preparations for the upcoming F1 season, too, but Marko says Australia, where the first GP takes place this weekend, is fine.
“The situation in Australia seems to be quite normal,” the Red Bull advisor told Speedweek.
How to watch the Australian Grand Prix: Free, online, live stream and F1 TVRead more
“Bahrain has never had many spectators, but that event is not a problem either.
“I think we have to make a statement. This virus, which by no means has the danger that is being hysterically portrayed, can destroy public life.”
He believes there has been a massive overreaction worldwide to the outbreak.
“I think the whole discussion has been blown up,” the Austrian continued.
“It is like a flu. For the most part, people are dying of old age with pre-existing diseases.
“Look up how many people get the flu each year. The problem is the quarantine. The danger of the disease is no worse than the flu.
“We need to counter the scaremongering of the politicians and not support them. We need to think positively and assume that the grands prix will go ahead fairly normally.”
The Australian GP is scheduled to go ahead on Sunday.
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 boss HITS BACK at star driver over schedule complaints
- 35 minutes ago
F1 2025 Driver Lineup: Big names on the move as half the grid reshuffles for next season
- 1 hour ago
Haas announce Hulkenberg EXIT as F1 star's new team confirmed
- Today 11:27
F1 champion claims Drive to Survive success was 'very lucky'
- Today 13:59
F1 franchise welcomes return of INCREDIBLE feature
- Today 12:59
F1 News Today: Red Bull star set to QUIT team as F1 driver role CONFIRMED for 2025
- Today 12:38
Related news
Perez 'regrets' Red Bull qualifying strategy as stewards meeting looms
Protests set to continue as FIA fail to answer questions
Driver-fan interactions cancelled in Australia
Renault reveal their 2020 colours
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860