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Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas believe their Mercedes Formula 1 team will be able to minimise the impact of a positive COVID-19 test amid its ranks at the Nurburgring.
F1’s champion team has communicated that it’s had a member test positive ahead of the Eifel Grand Prix, marking the first disclosed COVID-19 case among F1 teams since Sergio Perez missed two races due to his infection.
“It’s obviously important for everyone around the world to know that this thing has not disappeared” :: Lewis Hamilton
The identity of the staff member was not revealed.
“Naturally, it’s sad to hear that – we obviously had this week in between [races], and those guys work so hard to stay safe and be here on the weekend so it’s definitely a concern, it’s obviously important for everyone around the world to know, to be continuously reminded that this thing has not disappeared,” said Hamilton.
“It’s still here. We still need to continue to follow protocols and wear masks, and keep our hands clean, keep our distances.
“I can’t say what it’s going to do to our weekend. We have a lot of great people within our team, it’s not just about one person – so we’ll try and make him proud this weekend and it’s just going to take a different type of work, or it’s going to take a lot of work still, to make sure that we continue on without any disturbances.”
Mercedes says it has worked closely with the FIA and in line with its protocols following the positive test, which would mean the person who has tested positive will have reported “to the designated Isolation area at the venue” – while any other people who have have been in close contact with the infected person will have quarantined and reported for COVID-19 testing of their own.
“I fully trust the team is handling everything, following all the protocols and doing everything we can to be able to make sure it stops there in that one case” :: Valtteri Bottas
The two Mercedes drivers acknowledged that testing postive for COVID-19 could have dramatic ramifications for their title campaigns, with Hamilton leading team-mate Valtteri Bottas by 44 points and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 77 points in the standings.
“For sure, as a driver, the last thing you want is to get it,” Bottas said. “It would definitely mean at least missing one race, maybe even more – and we had one example of that already.
“So, of course, [we’re] being as cautious as you can and, you know, following the protocols and being sensible, staying in the bubble.
“Sometimes it can be a matter of luck, because it’s pretty contagious. But we’re all trying to do the best we can not to get it.
“So, of course it’s unfortunate that one team member got it but I fully trust the team is handling everything, following all the protocols and doing everything we can to be able to make sure it stops there in that one case. I have all the trust in that.”
Hamilton concurred, before adding that the threat posed by a potential infection was “no different to the beginning of the season”.
