BREAKING: Bahrain to become first Grand Prix ever behind closed doors

The coronavirus has infected more than 100,000 people worldwide and killed over 3500, with Italy being the most infected country in Europe with close to 5,000 cases. Its prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced Saturday night 14 provinces and 16 million people will be held under quarantine to further prevent the virus from spreading.

While Bahrain itself has under 100 confirmed cases of the virus, the country has been very strict already with its borders. It was previously announced Italians among others would not be allowed into the country without having been in quarantine first for 14 days, although exceptions were willing to be made for people involved on the F1 grid.

It will be the first Grand Prix ever to be held without any spectators. Should any team not make it, the Grand Prix will not go ahead, Ross Brawn had previously stated, as it would be unfair.

“Given the continued spread of Covid-19 globally, convening a major sporting event, which is open to the public and allows thousands of international travellers and local fans to interact in close proximity would not be the right thing to do at the present time," the Bahrain International Circuit said in a statement.

“But to ensure that neither the sport, nor its global supporter base, is unduly impacted, the race weekend itself will still go ahead as a televised event.”