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The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne has been cancelled due to coronavirus after disgruntled drivers put pressure on Formula One bosses to make the unprecedented call. Following confusion over the race's status ahead of Friday's practice, organisers made the decision to call off the F1 season-opener at 9am (AEDT), saying it was based on an update received from the Victorian government's chief health officer. "I want to express our disappointment on behalf of the fans," F1 chief executive Chase Carey said. "We are sorry not to have it. "(But) in many ways this is an unprecedented situation. I have never lived through anything like this. "You have to digest (information) and make the decision you think is right and I think we did here." But leading drivers including six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton urged F1 bosses to pull the pin over health fears at a Thursday night crisis meeting. They did not want to take part following McLaren's withdrawal from the season opener after one of their team members tested positive to the virus. Some teams indicated they were still keen to race at the meeting but some of the sport's biggest names were not interested following Hamilton's scathing criticism of F1's handling of the grand prix earlier on Thursday. Former world champions Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen had reportedly already flown out of the country by the time the race was officially called off. Mercedes released a statement on Friday morning requesting the race's cancellation before organisers officially pulled the pin. "In light of the force majeure events we are experiencing with regards to the coronavirus pandemic, we no longer feel the safety of our employees can be guaranteed if we continue to take part in the event," the statement said. "If organisers try to press ahead with the weekend it appears at this stage as if not all the teams will take part." Carey admitted there were a "range of views" expressed at the crisis meeting. "Were there differing views and differing opinions (on whether to race)? Yes," he said. "But I think we all agree we made the right decision." Mercedes star Hamilton said on Thursday that it was "shocking" that the season opener had not been cancelled from the outset due to the pandemic, claiming F1 bosses wanted to hold it because "cash is king". But Carey said on Friday: "If cash is king we wouldn't have made the decision we made today. "As the situation changed day to day and sometimes hour to hour we continued to evaluate that and made the appropriate decision." Hamilton said on social media that organisers had made the "right call" to cancel the grand prix. "Sadly this is the right decision. No one wants this ... but we have to be realistic and we must put health and safety first," he tweeted. "I hope to be back racing soon but in the meantime look after yourselves." Alarm bells were ringing for the Albert Park event after McLaren's departure. Another seven team officials across numerous F1 outfits had also been assessed and tested in Melbourne but were cleared of the virus. The AGPC said a ninth person, who was not a member of an F1 team, was still being tested. BBC Sport claimed on Friday that 14 more McLaren team members had been placed in quarantine in their Melbourne hotel after close contact with the infected employee. Carey remained tight-lipped on how the grand prix's cancellation would impact the rest of the season. Organisers have already banned fans from attending the Bahrain event on March 22 race while the Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed. Australian Associated Press

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