Formula E Cancels Races in London and New York

It never stood a chance.

Formula E is an economic kitten compared to beasts like MLB, the NHL, the NBA, and the Summer Olympics. And they’ve already been postponed. So it was only a matter of time.

On Friday, Autosport reported that Formula E cancelled the final two legs of its season in New York and London. Both sites have been repurposed to help provide care for coronavirus patients.

In the case of the London Docklands venue, it’s been temporarily transformed into the Nightingale Hospital to assist the National Health Service (NHS) with 4,000 extra beds, while the New York race – traditionally held in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn – will also make way for a coronavirus care facility.

As late as April, Formula E CEO Jamie Reigle was discussing a way to delay or relocate the London race, but with most of the globe still shut down, the outcome was inevitable.

According to a Formula E spokesperson, “With the FIA Formula E Championship race venue at ExCeL London having been prepared as a temporary hospital and continuing to be used as part of the national response in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the London E-Prix has therefore been cancelled.”

“Our number one priority remains the health and safety of our staff and the entire community of teams, manufacturers, partners, drivers and fans, as well as the residents and citizens of the cities in which we race.”

As Queen famously said, another one bites the dust.