Racing Point Formula 1 boss Otmar Szafnauer says there was “no requirement to inform the FIA” of Lance Stroll’s illness in Germany, prior to the driver’s positive COVID-19 test.
Stroll revealed on Wednesday ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix that he tested positive for the coronavirus after withdrawing from the Nurburgring round and travelling home from Germany to Switzerland on the Sunday of the race.
Szafnauer said during the Eifel Grand Prix weekend that Stroll had returned multiple negative COVID-19 tests after falling ill during the previous event in Russia.
Stroll had to pass a test before being allowed to enter the paddock at the Nurburgring. He was on-site for two days before falling more ill between Friday and Saturday, at which point he remained in isolation outside the paddock.
But he did not take another coronavirus test until returning home on Sunday. Had he remained on site, Sunday would have been the earliest he was required to take a test anyway because the FIA mandates five-day testing.
According to the FIA’s Code of Conduct, a participant who shows COVID symptoms during an event should report to the regulator.
Racing Point contests that Stroll’s symptoms were not COVID-related, so there was no obligation to inform the FIA – but fatigue and diarrhoea are listed as COVID symptoms on the World Health Organisation website.
“Lance had left the team bubble in Germany on Saturday October 10 as he was unable to compete due to the effect of a recurring stomach upset,” said Szafnauer in a statement released on Wednesday.
“Lance had first reported an upset stomach during the Russian Grand Prix week and subsequently tested negative for COVID-19 several times, tests taken in line with both the FIA and Racing Point’s own protocols.
“He also tested negative before arrival in Germany in the official pre-event test for the Eifel Grand Prix.
“The upset stomach symptoms returned on Saturday which forced Lance to withdraw from the race and stay in his motorhome away from the paddock.
“He consulted with a doctor who did not believe his symptoms indicated COVID-19 and did not advise a test was necessary.
“Based on this clinical assessment, at the time there was no requirement to inform the FIA as to the nature of the illness.
“Lance then flew home to Switzerland on a private plane on Sunday morning.
“In line with Racing Point’s enhanced testing protocol, under which all team members are tested on return from a Grand Prix, Lance took a COVID-19 test at home and received a positive result the next day.
“He continued to isolate for ten days from the date of the test, in line with local regulations. He returned a negative test on Monday this week and will travel to the Portuguese Grand Prix.”
Szafnauer said that every Racing Point team member tested negative after returning to the UK from Germany on a private charter flight.
They did so again in their pre-event test for the Portuguese Grand Prix.
The BBC has reported that team chairman and Lance’s father Lawrence Stroll has also tested positive for COVID-19 – on the Sunday of of the Eifel GP.
Lance Stroll’s case raises serious questions about whether the FIA’s protocols are sufficient or whether teams can be trusted to act within them as intended.
Either his pre-Eifel GP test produced a false negative and he already had the virus, or he was able to contract the virus in the days between the two tests – which means, had he not withdrawn, he could have had four full days in the paddock exposing his bubble to the virus.
The FIA is understood to be changing the rules relating to testing so that personnel must have a COVID test on arrival in the country, not before.
This will reduce the window a participant can be exposed to the virus between receiving a negative test and entering the paddock.
F1 and the FIA have yet to comment publicly on the issue.
