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Formula 1 is set to be unaffected by the four-week period of lockdown that will begin in England on Thursday.
Seven of the 10 Formula 1 teams are based in England, as well as many of those who work at the circuits who are not affiliated with teams. But despite fears when the imminent lockdown was first revealed in the British media that it could impact the work and travel activities of F1 staff, the restrictions being introduced will not have an impact
Travel for business reasons will still be permitted, while F1 is still covered by an exemption from certain regulations including the need for most personnel not to have to serve the 14-day quarantine required on return from certain countries – including Italy.
And while people are being encouraged to work from home where possible, many businesses including those involved in manufacturing and construction will continue to operate.
F1 has so far not been stymied by complications emerging from the recent tightening of rules in Europe, with France-based staff having no difficulty travelling despite its rules being tightened earlier this week and this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix taking place despite Italy’s restrictions.
F1 has also been working under a stringent regime of COVID-19 testing, with all personnel tested prior to travel to an event and then within 24 hours of arrival at the circuit.
While the full regulations have not yet been published none of the measures that have been revealed will impact F1 – although the possibility of a yet-more stringent lockdown in the future could potentially do so should the COVID-19 situation in England continue to get worse.
Mercedes F1 boss Wolff, whose team is one of the seven based primarily in the UK, downplayed any fears of an impact from the growing restrictions in Europe.
“The lockdowns that we see in Europe now are very different to the lockdowns in spring,” said Wolff. “It was a complete shutdown of any activity, going to work, being on the street.
“I think this time, at least [from] what we can see from France and Germany, access to pubs restaurants and leisure places has been has been stopped or has been curfewed, but going to work is still permitted for the ones that need to go to work.
“And it will impact our lives, that’s for sure, it will heavily impact some industries. But I think we can find a way of working around it.
“You never know whether we can do all the races that are left because clearly the health question comes first. It’s in the hands of the health authorities in the countries that we are visiting to accept motor racing and host us. If these guys decide it’s too much of a risk then obviously we can’t race there. This is how the decision-making process runs.
“I believe that Formula 1 has done really a great job, and I mean the FIA, F1 and the teams in running a championship, contrary to many other championships
“We’ve been travelling from country to country, in our bubbles, we had very few positive COVID cases. And that’s why I don’t think we are really providing a risk for any country that we’re visiting because we are probably the safest group of people out there.
“But who am I to judge? Somebody who knows and understands much more about the medical situation will have an input. And we just have to take that guidance.”
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl confirmed his team was monitoring the lockdown situation in the UK but is also confident in the way F1 is operating.
Given F1 was among the first international sports to hold events this year, its protocols are robust enough to deal with the current measures.
Seidl also suggested that even if more stringent restrictions were later implemented, F1 would be able to find a way to work around them in safety to ensure the final four events of the season scheduled to take place in Turkey, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi are completed.
“Obviously, we are monitoring the situation together with Formula 1, together with the FIA,” said Seidl
“It is also clear that [because of] all the protocols and things we have in place here for Formula 1, for our own little world, I think we’re still feeling quite safe and I the health and safety for our people is protected, which is the most important thing.
“But of course, we see what’s going on in the world, we are all not immune regarding this pandemic. The situation is quite dynamic at the moment, there’s no change in any of the plans, we still plan to go ahead with all the races coming. And I think we simply have to take it like that.
“We don’t know exactly if there’s still exemptions in place which would allow us to keep going. It’s such a dynamic situation [that] we simply have to take it day by day, and then make make our decisions based on that.
“We are quite flexible as a Formula 1 team in terms of adapting to new circumstances. A lot of the British teams sit in one boat there as well. So, it will be a common issue for all teams.
“But I’m sure if it ever comes up the roads, we can deal with it. As we have seen this year.”
