While the Chinese Grand Prix (GP) has been postponed amid novel coronavirus concerns, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) will meet this week to seek solutions to put the Shanghai event into its busy schedule, which was set to feature 22 races this year.

Ross Brawn, managing director of F1, confirmed the delay on Wednesday, but he did not say when or where the meeting would take place.

Different from the Shanghai race planned on April 19, the inaugural Vietnam GP set on April 5 in Hanoi is going ahead as planned.

"We are going to try to fit it in but it will be very tough. We are making our best efforts but there is no guarantee," Brawn said.

"It might need another race to move and that's a major consideration and a major concern," said Brawn. "It would be pretty stressful for the teams to fit it in but I don't think any of us want to lose the Chinese GP.

"As for Vietnam all the feedback we are getting is rather like the UK, there have been some cases but not a level that would concern us.

"The advice we are getting is that it can go ahead there."

Previously, the Chinese Formula E GP, which was due to take place on March 21 in the coastal resort city of Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, was called off by the all-electric FE series "after close consultation" with government authorities.

Important part of the F1 race

The delay of the Shanghai race, the fourth of the new season, saw the disappointment among teams and racers.

"The Chinese GP has long been an important part of the F1 calendar with many passionate fans. The FIA F1 community looks forward to racing in China as soon as possible and wishes everyone in the country the best during this difficult time," said the FIA statement.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, speaking in London on Monday, said not going to Shanghai would be a "shame".

"We had full grand stands last year," he said, adding that China was beginning to become a "really important market in terms of fan followership".

Renault team chief Abiteboul described the news as "a disappointment" in terms of the health crisis and also because "it's a market and a grand prix that we appreciate, that is highly important to the sport".

A calendar of sport events affected due to novel coronavirus

China has been forced to cancel or put off a host of sporting events due to the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Athletics

February 12-13

The Asian Athletics Associations has cancelled its indoor championships in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.

March 13-15

The World Athletics has postponed the biennial event World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, until next year.

Badminton

February 11-16

Team China have been forced to withdraw from the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Manila, the Philippines.

February 25-March 1

The badminton China Masters in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province, has been postponed.

April 21-26

The Badminton World Federation has not pushed the panic button about the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, where the virus originated.

Basketball

February 6-9

The basketball Olympic qualifiers have been moved from Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, to Belgrade, capital of Serbia.

February 24

The International Basketball Association (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifier in Foshan between China and Malaysia will also be rescheduled.

Boxing

February 3-14

The boxing Olympic qualifying tournament among Asian and Oceania countries and regions have been rescheduled between March 3 and 11 in Amman, Jordan, after the Wuhan event was cancelled.

Football

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) said domestic games at all levels would be postponed.

February -March

In the two months, the AFC Champions League's first three rounds involving Chinese clubs have been postponed and later switched to away fixtures, involving Beijing Guoan, Guangzhou Evergrande, Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai SIPG.

Only one exception between Beijing Guoan and Chiangrai United in the second round will go as planned on February 18 as Chinese players have started their training in Thailand. 

February 3-9

The AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament has been rearranged into Australia from Wuhan.

F1 and FE

March 21

The Chinese FE GP was abandoned in Sanya.

April 19

The Chinese GP in Shanghai has been postponed waiting for the FIA to reschedule.

Golf:

February-March

The men's golf PGA Tour series in China have postponed two qualifying tournaments and delayed the start of the season by two months.

February 20-23

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour in Pattaya, Thailand has been cancelled.

February 27-31

The Women's Golf World Championship in Singapore has also been cancelled.

March 5-9

The elite women's golf tour Blue Bay tournament in south China's Hainan Province has been cancelled.

Tennis

February 4-9

The International Tennis Federation has moved the Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event including Team China out of Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province, to Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana) in Kazakhstan.

(With input from agencies) 

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