In this file photo taken on March 31, 2019, drivers steer their cars during the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit in the desert south of the Bahraini capital Manama. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP)

MANAMA - The Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix will be a "participants-only event" without spectators over the concerns of the coronavirus outbreak, the organizers announced Sunday.

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The 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled for March 22, one week after the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which is still set to go ahead as planned with spectators in attendance

"In consultation with our international partners and the Kingdom's national health Taskforce, Bahrain has made the decision to hold this year's Bahrain Grand Prix as a participants-only event," a statement read on Sunday.

"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 statement said.

"To ensure that neither the sport nor its global supporter base is unduly impacted, the race will go ahead as a televised event," it added.

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The 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled for March 22, one week after the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which is still set to go ahead as planned with spectators in attendance.

The coronavirus outbreak has already forced the postponement of the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, which had been scheduled to take place on April 15.