Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has led calls to let Formula 1 drivers themselves decide whether or not they’re able to race after testing positive for COVID-19.
The 2022 F1 season has begun with two high-profile COVID cases, with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo missing the second pre-season test in Bahrain and Sebastian Vettel already ruled out of the season-opening grand prix there.
That’s raised questions over whether it’s time for F1 to further relax its COVID-19 protocols.
For 2022, F1 has rolled back its protocols, with grand prix attendees no longer having to test at regular intervals but simply required to be vaccinated.
Masks are still mandatory in indoor spaces, as well as when mixing with people not in their bubble outside of scheduled events.
Testing is still available on site but it’s now only “highly recommended” rather than mandatory. Teams still conduct their own tests and anybody with a positive COVID-19 test will not be permitted into the circuit.
Ricciardo admitted he was in a “pretty rough place” when he had COVID last week and said he would have “struggled” to race if the Bahrain GP was a week ago.
Speaking ahead of the Bahrain season-opener, multiple drivers argued it’s now time to let the drivers decide if they should be able to race while testing positive for COVID.
“COVID has evolved so much you know, the best judge will be ourselves,” Perez said.
“He [Ricciardo] wouldn’t be able to race but maybe there are other people, other drivers who get COVID and feel OK.
“You see with some countries, it feels like the world is fully open but Formula 1 is still very restrictive with the COVID thing.
“We should leave it up to the drivers to decide. I think we have all raced once feeling really bad, health-wise.
“We’re the judges to say we can race the way we’re at the moment or we can simply not. If the driver feels comfortable to race like that, I wouldn’t think it’s a problem. The world seems to have moved on from it.”
Ricciardo suggested COVID-hit drivers should be made to take a fitness test to determine whether they’re fit to race.
Alfa Romeo’s new signing Valtteri Bottas agreed but highlighted the risk of spreading the infection.
“I would vote for yes [drivers] should be allowed [to race], but only in a way where there’s no risk of spreading it further.
“So I think maybe then if they have COVID, there should be extra protocols, making sure other team members don’t get affected.”
Lewis Hamilton had one of the highest-profile COVID absences when he had to miss the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix having contracted the virus once that year’s title was already sealed.
He made clear he would not have been well enough to race even had it been permitted, pointing out that he “barely made it through” the subsequent Abu Dhabi GP when he returned to action a week later having tested negative.
“There was no way I could have raced when I had it. I was very very sick.
“It is strange that obviously the world is getting more and more used to having it and you see less of it on the news. Actually I don’t see any of it on the news anymore, but it is still around us and I think we do still need to take precautions, continue to wear masks, continue to stay safe and keep others safe.
“You know, if we all stop wearing our masks and everyone in the garage gets it, everyone’s going to be sick and it will affect people differently. Some people don’t even know they have it and some people get really ill. So it’s better to just not take the risk.”
Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll – who have both also had COVID, Stroll missing the 2020 Nurburgring race as a result – felt they could have raced while suffering from it and backed having freedom to make decisions drivers feel are responsible.
“Yeah, I think physically clearly there was no problem at all. I got tested after having done an 18km run which felt as good as it did at the time. So I was in shock when I got the news,” said Gasly.
“Different to Lance, I haven’t had any symptoms at all and honestly, physically it would not have been a problem.
“At the end of the day if scientists and doctors believe there will not be any problem then we should go ahead because I think we don’t want to, as a driver I don’t want my championship to be impacted by this virus.”
Stroll also explained that he believes there are ways drivers could race whilst ensuring they remain isolated.
“I think we know so much about the virus now. I think there’s ways of being very cautious and responsible whilst having COVID and still competing,” he said.
“I think there’s ways of isolating yourself, putting your helmet on in your room and minimising complete contact with everyone. I think there’s ways to do that. I do think I could compete with it.”
Carlos Sainz believes motorsport has a unique advantage over other sports when it comes to COVID.
“If there is a sport where I think you can race without spreading the virus too much or zero it’s Formula 1,” Sainz said.
“I think you could do all of the meetings back in your hotel room. Arrive to the circuit 30 minutes before with your suit and helmet on. Jump in the car and go.
“Personally I feel like if I get COVID in the middle of a championship fight or very important thing, I would struggle to accept missing a race if I’m feeling well and perfectly fit.
“If I’m feeling bad then I’ll be the first one to raise my hand and say I cannot race and the third driver needs to jump in.
“It’s an interesting thing for us to investigate because our sport gives us that opportunity to maybe be a bit more protected and less spread, should be up for the driver to decide.”
Reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen said it should be down to a “medical expert” to answer that question, while Haas F1 driver Mick Schumacher said that “it shouldn’t be the case, just because obviously COVID is still powerful and people still have very hard symptoms with it”.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also pointed out a practical point that some countries wouldn’t allow drivers to enter the country with a positive COVID-19 test so it wouldn’t be possible to have a policy of letting the drivers decide at every race.
