Monaco Grand Prix postponement expected

The Monaco Grand Prix appears almost certain to become another Formula 1 victim to the Coronavirus following the postponement of the French Open tennis tournament.

On Tuesday, the French Tennis Federation opted to move the Paris event at Roland Garros from its customary late-May early June slot to a new date commencing September 24.

The Grand Slam clay classic was originally due to start on Sunday, May 24, the same date as the Monaco Grand Prix.

Although Paris and the principality are over 600 miles apart, it seems inconceivable the blue riband event of the motorsport calendar will go ahead given the decision taken by the governing body of French tennis.

It is understood Formula 1 officials are discussing with their counterparts at the Automobile Club de Monaco the possibility of switching the race to a new date later in the calendar.

The problem lies in whether the circuit infrastructure currently being erected will continue to go ahead as planned and remain in place until any new date, or be dismantled, with work to start again prior to any new slot.

It takes 12 weeks, prior to the race weekend, for the track to be configured. The disruption to residents during that time period is obviously high.

At present, the Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled, with the races in Bahrain, Vietnam and China all postponed in the hope a new date can be found later in the year for them to run.

It is anticipated the subsequent events in the Netherlands and Spain on back-to-back weekends in early May will soon be called off.

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