Sergio Perez on Thursday turned the primary Formula One driver because the begin of the season to check constructive for coronavirus and was dominated out of this weekend’s British Grand Prix. Organisers, nonetheless, insisted that Sunday’s race will nonetheless go forward because the incident “could have no wider influence on the occasion”. “Following the announcement that Sergio has examined constructive for COVID-19 on the Silverstone Circuit ahead of the British Grand Prix, the crew regrets to announce that he shall be unable to take part on this weekend’s race,” stated Perez’s Racing Level crew in a press release.
The 30-year-old Mexican is the primary driver to check constructive for the virus because the world championship made its delayed begin in Austria earlier in July beneath strict well being protocols.
“Sergio is bodily properly and in good spirits, however he’ll proceed to self-isolate beneath the rules of the related public well being authorities, with security the last word precedence for the crew and the game,” added his crew.
It’s attainable that Britain’s quarantine guidelines imply Perez will miss the fifth spherical of the championship, additionally at Silverstone, subsequent weekend.
Perez will doubtless get replaced by both fellow-Mexican Esteban Gutierrez or Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne for Sunday’s race, the fourth spherical of this season’s truncated calendar.
Nonetheless, some media studies recommended that German veteran Nico Hulkenberg, who misplaced his seat with Renault final 12 months, could also be drafted in.
Earlier Thursday, Racing Point stated that Perez had returned an “inconclusive Covid-19 check.”
He was absent from official media actions as he awaited the end result of a second check.
Components One has a strict protocol for all concerned at a grand prix with personnel examined earlier than every occasion and each 5 days.
The F1 season has to this point seen greater than 15,000 exams.
Till Thursday, there had been solely two constructive outcomes, each of which had been for native set-up employees.
Racing Level stated that Perez had not returned to Mexico because the Hungarian Grand Prix 10 days earlier.
“Perez has entered self-quarantine in accordance with the directions of the related public well being authorities, and can proceed to comply with the process mandated by these authorities,” learn a press release issued by Components 1 and the FIA.
“With help of the native organiser of the British Grand Prix, native well being authorities and the FIA COVID-19 delegate, a full observe and hint initiative has been undertaken and all shut contacts have been quarantined.
“The procedures set out by the FIA and Components 1 have offered for swift containment of an incident that can don’t have any wider influence on this weekend’s occasion.”
Talking earlier than the Covid-19 delayed season started in Austria, Components One chairman and chief govt Chase Carey stated the game wouldn’t cancel an occasion if a driver returned a constructive check.
“We encourage groups to have procedures in place so if a person has to enter quarantine, now we have the flexibility to quarantine them at a lodge after which to switch that particular person,” he stated.
Perez, who made his F1 debut in 2011, is sixth within the 20-driver championship this season after three rounds.
All three races to this point — back-to-back occasions in Austria adopted by the Hungarian Grand Prix — have taken place behind closed doorways.
Promoted
Perez had began every of the final 122 races since his absence from the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2014.
The 2020 season ought to have began in Melbourne in March however the race was cancelled after McLaren withdrew when certainly one of their crew members examined constructive for the coronavirus.
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