Max Mosley likens Australian Grand Prix cancellation to Indianapolis-2005 fiasco

Australian Grand Prix

Max Mosley likens Australian Grand Prix cancellation to Indianapolis-2005 fiasco

Former FIA President fears a fan backlash similar to 2005

Sam Hall

Sunday 15 March 2020 13:57

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Former FIA President Max Mosley says that the slow decision making over the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix could risk a fan backlash similar to that of the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

After a member of the McLaren tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday evening, twelve hours passed before any form of official statement was forthcoming from Formula 1, the FIA or the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC), and Mosley says acting slowly in a crisis is something that fans will struggle to forgive.

“I think the general principle is that people can forgive you for being wrong but they can’t forgive you for being indecisive,” Mosley told Motorsport Magazine. “You’ve got to take a decision and the sooner you take it, the better.”

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Mosley faced a tough decision himself in 2005 when Michelin failed to supply tyres that could cope with the added forces placed on them from the banked corners.

Requests were made for a chicane to be added to the track, taking the banked section out of the track, but no compromise could be reached and seven of the ten teams retired their cars after completing the warm up lap - fulfilling their contractual obligations but infuriating fans.

“[It was] one of those situations where you have to make your mind up and whatever you do, you’re going to get criticised for, but that goes with the territory,” added Mosley.

“Obviously all big decisions are taken with insufficient information. That’s life. Think of any example you like; if you’ve got all the information the decision makes itself.

“At the time everybody’s shouting in your ear, in the end we did what we did.

“Looking back, it was 100 per cent the right thing to do even though it annoyed an awful lot of people. It’s very difficult. You’re never absolutely certain – far from it.”