British GP | Sergio Perez is in self-isolation after inconclusive Covid-19 test
Racing Point driver, Sergio Perez, is in self-isolation and waiting for a second result after his Covid-19 test was inconclusive.
Today was the usual media day of the British Grand Prix that will be held in the well-known Silverstone. Sergio Perez was believed to attend in the media press conference, but he did not. The reason of this was that he has had an inconclusive Covid-19 test result, so the Mexican driver is in self-isolation while waiting for a second clear result. This does not mean that he has tested positive, this is just the protocol that must be followed when there is an inclusive result.
“Checo is not at the circuit today following an inconclusive test result. He is self-isolating awaiting the results of a re-test.” The FIA affirmed.
We must remember that all paddock personnel must be tested for Covid-19 every five days and they will be allowed to enter only if the result is negative for the virus. The FIA also commented that the Grand Prix will not be cancelled if there are a few positive cases of the Chinese virus and they will do everything they can in order to race.
But, what happens if Sergio tests positive for Covid-19? As part of an agreement, Racing Point will need to call one of Mercedes’ reserve drivers to race for them in the British Grand Prix. Esteban Gutierrez and Stoffel Vandoorne would be the ones that could race alongside Lance Stroll but the Belgian driver is not available due to the restart of the Formula E season in Berlin, that would mean that the Mexican driver, Esteban Gutierrez, will drive for Racing Point. Let’s remember that the last time Gutierrez raced in an official Formula 1 Grand Prix was at the end of the 2016 season and from that point until today, he has been sharing the reserve role with ex-McLaren F1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
It should be noted that this is the first time that a Formula 1 driver has been asked to be tested for a second time after Sergio’s inconclusive first covid-19 test. There have been more that 15,000 Covid-19 test and the FIA confirmed that only two have been confirmed as positive. This two people were not in the Austrian GP paddock and they were self-isolated immediately. Hopefully Checo is confirmed as a negative case for Covid-19 and he can drive this weekend.
