Red Bull Formula 1 team principal Christian Horner says the developing situation regarding the coronavirus outbreak is a “moving target” that is chang🧸ing on an hourly basis.

Amid the rapidly-evolving spread of COVID-19, ther🔜e are ongoing concerns about how the disea🧜se could affect the 2020 F1 season, with the Chinese Grand Prix already postponed.

There are doubts linging over the opening three rounds in Australia, Bahrain and Vietnam - particularly with regards to potential travel and/or guarantine restrictions - though Australian GP race organisers have insisted the Melbourne round will go a𓂃head as planned. 

Asked about the prospect of teams being restricted from travelling to events, Horner joked: “I think we are all hopeful that 🍸Mercedes don’t make it through, that would be wishful thinking.

“In all seriousness we have to follow guidance from the countries, governments and our own governments and g☂overning bodies,” he added.

"Chase Carey was here this morning [on Friday] so we had a quick up🍷date with him.

“It is a moving target. It changes almost by the hour at the moment so I think we have to keep a watching brief, be respo💫nsible in how we act and logistically moving people around the world at the moment has its challenges.

"Everybody is fi❀nding out which hubs they will be going through 𓂃en route to Australia.

“As I said it is a moving tar꧅get so all we can do is follow the advice of the goverꦜning body and the local governments.”

Reigning w🍸orld champion Lewis Hamilton also expressed his concerns about the coronavirus and believes people need to “take it seriously”.

“Ultimately the FIA and the organisers decide where we go to race,” Hamilton sa🍌id.

“Naturally, I’ve been watching the news everyday and🌄 it’s concerning to see how it’s continued to spread and doesn’t look like it’s going to stop spreading any time soon.

“I hope that those that have it recovers and I hope that everyone takes it seriously. Everyone is shaking hands and h🐻ugging and it is all around us.

“Even travelling is going to be difficult so I think you have to take a👍ll the precautions you can and I think the governments can do more to try and contain it.”