LISBON • McLaren are tightening procedures towards Covid-19 to guard their Method One drivers Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris, after what staff principal Andreas Seidl known as a “wake-up name” in Germany two weeks in the past.
Reigning champions Mercedes had two optimistic circumstances on the Oct 11 Nurburgring race, and needed to isolate staff members and fly in replacements from England.
Racing Level billionaire proprietor Lawrence Stroll and his driver son Lance additionally examined optimistic that Sunday, with the Canadian changing into the second F1 driver after teammate Sergio Perez to be contaminated.
“What occurred on the Nurburgring, that is simply one other wake-up name for the whole staff to verify we do not get complacent,” Seidl stated forward of tomorrow’s Portuguese Grand Prix.
“We did some further measures for right here once more, by way of separating the individuals much more so far as it’s potential within the workplaces and within the garages.
“We did one other step additionally with the drivers to separate them much more from the staff throughout the race weekend, merely to verify we do what is feasible.”
F1 is working in a “bubble”, with groups examined each 5 days and saved aside within the paddock.
They’re additionally preserving alternative employees on standby and the governing physique has tightened procedures since Nurburgring, with no one allowed into the paddock with out having produced a unfavourable check outcome on website.
Mercedes staff boss Toto Wolff additionally revealed that Lewis Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas have been isolating as a lot as potential.
“The drivers are probably the most restricted of the entire group, of the entire staff,” stated the Austrian.
“It is actually not a fantastic state of affairs for them since you nearly have to stay like a hermit.”
In yesterday’s first observe session, the Silver Arrows made it a one-two, with Bottas (1:18.410) edging Hamilton (1:18:749) as the primary F1 session in Portugal since 1996 acquired beneath means.
REUTERS
F1 PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX
Follow 3 (5.55pm) & qualifying (8.30pm) – Singtel TV Ch114 & StarHub Ch208
