Melbourne Grand Prix Set to Proceed Despite Mideast Travel Chaos
George Russell drives the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W17 on track during day three of F1 Testing in Bahrain on Feb. 20.
Photographer: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
The Australian Grand Prix is expected to go ahead with minimal disruption in Melbourne this weekend, despite the conflict in Iran forcing teams and workers to change travel plans.
With much of Middle East airspace closed, Formula 1 has scrambled to reroute drivers, staff and freight to Melbourne, with most teams based in Europe, said Travis Auld, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. Pre-season testing wrapped up in Bahrain over the past fortnight, and some McLaren and Mercedes personnel were reportedly stranded there after the conflict broke out over the weekend.