F1 Races Will Not Be Cancelled If Someone Tests Positive For COVID-19

Formula One (F1) chief executive, Chase Carey, has said F1 races will not be cancelled if a driver or team member tests positive for COVID-19.

After the F1 confirmed the first eight races in a revised calendar for the 2020 season, due to restart with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5, Carey said the rescheduled events will go ahead even if there are positive tests.

“An individual having been found with a positive infection will not lead to a cancellation of a race,” Carey said.

“We encourage teams to have procedures in place so if an individual has to be put in quarantine, we have the ability to quarantine them at a hotel and to replace that individual.

“Some things we’d have to talk through and work through.

“The array of ‘what ifs’ are too wide to play out every one of them, but a team not being able to race wouldn’t cancel the race.

“I don’t think I could sit here and lay out the consequences.

“But we will have a procedure in place that finding infection will not lead to a cancellation.

“If a driver has an infection, [teams have] reserve drivers available.

“We wouldn’t be going forward if we were not highly confident, we have necessary procedures and expertise and capabilities to provide a safe environment and manage whatever issues arrive,” he said.

The F1 season was originally put on hold due to a member of the McLaren garage testing positive for COVID-19 in March before the Australian Grand Prix, which led to the cancellation of several events in the lead up to announcing the return in Austria.