McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo was forced to miss last week’s Sakhir tests, while Aston Martin ‘s Sebastian Vettel has had to skip this weekend’s opening race. The latter has caused Nico Hulkenberg to return for the fourth time to replace a driver who has tested positive for COVID-19.
In the last two years, under the strict protocols in place, there would have been no discussion. A positive test from any figure in the F1 paddock meant he was out for the count and isolated for as long as necessary. Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Nikita Mazepin were forced to miss races for this.
But the world has moved to a general philosophy of coexistence with COVID, there are governments of countries that have even suggested that those with positive results can return to work normally. These issues have also reached the motor world.
The FIA, for its part, has relaxed the COVID protocols that it includes in its code of conduct and has abolished mandatory tests, leaving them in the hands of the teams. However, if a driver is tested and tests positive, they are automatically excluded from the event, and missing a race or two could have a significant impact on their season.
So, given the current situation, should a driver who has tested positive for COVID be allowed to race? This question is divided into two main aspects that must be taken into account. The first is the obvious risk of contagion to other team personnel, who could in turn pass it on to vulnerable members of their family.
The second is the impact on the individual at the health level. Some people are affected much more than others and, for those who have it worse, driving an F1 car is probably not the best option.
“There was no way I could have raced when I had it,” Hamilton says of the diagnosis that forced him to miss the 2020 Sakhir GP , in which his replacement George Russell proved worthy of joining him at Mercedes this year.
“I was very, very sick. And even when I came back, right at the end of the season, I could barely make it to the [Abu Dhabi] race. I just sent Seb [Vettel] a message because it’s sad not to see him here. be well. I know that Daniel [Ricciardo] was affected a lot.”
Ricciardo acknowledged that he was “definitely in a pretty tough spot” and would have “had a hard time” driving in last week’s test. It was his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, who completed the three-day test solo.
“I was pretty gutted [physically] about it,” says Ricciardo.
“So I think it’s really obvious that it goes on a case-by-case basis. If you feel like you can do it, then yeah, maybe show some kind of fitness test and prove it. But it would have taken me a week ago.”
However, other pilots who have tested positive have had no negative effects.
“I think physically I had no problem,” says Pierre Gasly, whose positive for COVID in January 2021 has not affected his season.
“I got tested [for COVID] after I’d done an 11-mile run, and I’ve never felt as good as I did then. I was a little shocked when I got the news, and I still felt fine afterward. I’ve had no symptoms at all, and obviously it wouldn’t have been a problem physically.”
Assuming a driver believes he can continue racing, obtains medical clearance, and is not required to self-isolate by local authorities, would it be the right thing to do? Pilots have mixed opinions, with some taking a more cautious approach than others.
“Naturally as a driver you always want to race,” says reigning world champion Max Verstappen. “And you would say ‘Yes, we should be allowed to run.'”
“But I think you should also ask a medical expert about it, what is allowed and what is not, and then work together with the FIA to see what is possible and what will be allowed in the future. But at the moment it is a bit difficult. know.”
“It’s a complicated issue,” agrees Charles Leclerc. “The way things are right now, it’s obviously impossible to do it, because in some places we can’t run with COVID.”
“So sure, if there are some places where we’ll be able to race with COVID, then things could change. But the way things are right now, I definitely wouldn’t.”
The consensus seems to be that the pilot should be able to decide whether or not he is fit to compete.
“COVID has evolved so much that I think we would be the best judge of it ourselves,” says Pérez, who became the first driver to miss a race at the 2020 British GP.
“As Daniel [Ricciardo] says, he probably wouldn’t be able to race, but maybe there are other people or other drivers who have COVID and feel fine. It feels like the world is totally open, but F1 is very restrictive with things. of COVID, so I think you have to let the pilot decide.
“I think we’ve all raced feeling really bad at some point, and we’re the ones who can say: ok, we can race the way we are right now, or we just can’t. So if the driver feels comfortable to race like that, no I think it’s a problem. It seems that the world has left it behind.”
“I also feel like it should be a driver’s decision,” echoed Valtteri Bottas. “I would vote yes, it should be allowed – but only in a way that can ensure there is no risk of spreading it further.”
“I think maybe for someone who has COVID, there definitely should be additional protocols to make sure other team members aren’t affected. Because obviously each person’s symptoms may be different, for some less risky, for others riskier. So I think that’s the question mark.”
As Bottas suggested, pilots are not entirely selfish. They understand that they have to take into account the people they work with and their families in general.
“It’s still all around us,” says Hamilton. “And I think we’re going to continue to have to take precautions, continue to wear masks and continue to keep ourselves safe and keep each other safe. If we all stop wearing the masks and everyone in the garage gets it, everyone is going to get sick, And it will affect people differently.”
“Some people don’t even know they have it, and some people get really sick. So it’s best not to take any chances for now. And I also think as a sport and because of the message we send to people, it’s important that we continue to wear our masks. “.
“We’re seeing the world move on,” says Lance Stroll , who missed the 2020 Eifel GP . “We are adapting to the world we live in now, and I still think it’s important to be responsible when you’re around older people, your grandparents, all these things I think are separate, that’s everyone’s responsibility when we’re around older people.” .
“But as Formula 1, as a sport, as a world we have to move on, and live our lives. Now we are starting to see that around the world.”
“I think there are ways to be very cautious and responsible, while you have COVID and you’re still competing. I think there are ways to isolate yourself, to put on the helmet in your room and to completely minimize contact with everyone. There are ways to do it I think I could compete with it.”
So if drivers were allowed to compete, how would it work? As Stroll suggests, simply wearing a helmet and keeping your distance from others solves many of the problems, and others share that opinion.
“If there is a sport in which I think you can compete without spreading the virus too much, or at least zero, I think it is F1,” says Carlos Sainz.
“I think you could do all the meetings from your hotel room, show up 15 minutes before the shoot with your suit and helmet on, get in the car and drive out.”
“Personally, I feel that if I get sick with COVID and I’m in the middle of a championship fight, or something very important, I would have a hard time accepting missing a race and if I feel good and I feel perfectly. If I feel bad, it would be the first to raise my hand and say I can’t race and the third driver has to get in the car.
“But I think it’s an interesting case that we should look into, because I think our sport gives us this opportunity to be maybe a little more protected and less spread out, and I think it should be up to the driver to decide.”
