The second round of COVID-19 testing among Formula 1 participants has recorded zero positive results.
After carrying out more than 4032 tests that all proved negative in the lead-up to the Austrian Grand Prix, F1 has had 4566 tests carried out on “drivers, teams and personnel” in the lead-up to its follow-up, the Styrian Grand Prix, at the same Red Bull Ring venue.
This second round of tests was carried out between July 3 and July 9, covering the Austrian GP weekend itself.
The news of zero positive cases comes despite the fact that F1’s efforts to contain the championship’s participants within ‘bubbles’ have not proven universally successful from the get go.
Ferrari and Red Bull were issued a reminder of protocols last weekend after Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was pictured conversing with Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Helmut Marko last week, with none in the conversation observing social distancing or wearing face masks.
Ferrari was then warned again in the lead-up to the Styrian GP after its other driver Charles Leclerc travelled back to his Monaco home between races and was also pictured breaking protocols.
In an IndyCar media teleconference attended by The Race, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said F1 has done an “exceptional job” to retain a “COVID-free environment”.
Unlike F1, IndyCar and NASCAR don’t insist on regular COVID-19 tests, instead monitoring drivers’ temperatures when they enter the circuit – and encouraging them to report any symptoms.
Asked what he made of F1’s approach compared to American racing series, Brown said: “I don’t know exactly what every other racing series is doing. So it’d be difficult for me to say they’re doing it right or wrong, all I can really do is speak to what Formula 1 is doing and they’re doing an unbelievable job.
“5000 tests, people flying in from different parts of the world. The minute someone – and there’s not been many instances – is taking their mask off, you’re getting a letter or phone call saying ‘put your mask back on’.
“Obviously I got excited with Lando [Norris] on the podium [last weekend] and embraced him after the race and that was something that you get caught up in the emotion, excitement, of the event but it was suggested maybe I don’t do that again if we get a podium anytime soon.
“All sports should be looking at all sports in the world, who’s doing what and what are best practices but I’ve got nothing but great things to say about how the FIA and Formula 1 and the countries that they’re racing in are executing, it feels extremely safe here.”
