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Sergio Perez on Thursday grew to become 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, nevertheless, insisted that Sunday’s race will nonetheless go forward because the incident “will have no wider impact on the event”. “Following the announcement that Sergio has examined constructive for COVID-19 on the Silverstone Circuit forward of the British Grand Prix, the group regrets to announce that he can be unable to take part on this weekend’s race,” stated Perez’s Racing Point group in an announcement.
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 physically well and in good spirits, but he will continue to self-isolate under the guidelines of the relevant public health authorities, with safety the ultimate priority for the team and the sport,” added his group.
It is feasible that Britain’s quarantine guidelines imply Perez will miss the fifth spherical of the championship, additionally at Silverstone, subsequent weekend.
Perez will seemingly 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.
However, some media experiences recommended that German veteran Nico Hulkenberg, who misplaced his seat with Renault final yr, could also be drafted in.
Earlier Thursday, Racing Point stated that Perez had returned an “inconclusive Covid-19 test.”
He was absent from official media actions as he awaited the end result of a second check.
Formula 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 assessments.
Until Thursday, there had been solely two constructive outcomes, each of which have been for native set-up workers.
Racing Point 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 instructions of the relevant public health authorities, and will continue to follow the procedure mandated by those authorities,” learn an announcement issued by Formula 1 and the FIA.
“With assistance of the local organiser of the British Grand Prix, local health authorities and the FIA COVID-19 delegate, a full track and trace initiative has been undertaken and all close contacts have been quarantined.
“The procedures set out by the FIA and Formula 1 have supplied for swift containment of an incident that may don’t have any wider impression on this weekend’s occasion.”
Speaking before the Covid-19 delayed season began in Austria, Formula One chairman and chief executive Chase Carey said the sport would not cancel an event if a driver returned a positive test.
“We encourage groups to have procedures in place so if a person has to enter quarantine, we’ve got the flexibility to quarantine them at a resort after which to interchange that particular person,” he said.
Perez, who made his F1 debut in 2011, is sixth in the 20-driver championship this season after three rounds.
All three races so far — back-to-back events in Austria followed by the Hungarian Grand Prix — have taken place behind closed doors.
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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 one in every of their group members examined constructive for the coronavirus.
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