TOP F1 & MOTOGP TEAMS AFFECTED BY COVID-19

Top F1 & MotoGP Teams affected by COVID-19 – Photo: LAT

Both the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team in Formula 1 and the factory Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP squad have had positive COVID-19 test results leading into this weekend’s action.

By DAN McCARTHY

The positive test results have been made public just hours prior to the start of the Grand Prix weekends for both the four and two wheeled world championships.

In the early hours of this morning Mercedes released a statement that one of its team members had tested positive to COVID-19 in the lead up to the teams home Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in Germany.

“We can confirm that a team member has tested positive,” the Mercedes statement read. “This has been handled and is being handled in line with FIA protocols, working closely with the FIA. We ask for your understanding that we won’t be offering additional details.”

As has been the case in F1 all season, as part of F1s safety protocols every person is tested on a regular basis so that they can be quickly isolated should they return a positive result.

Strict social distancing rules and precautions will continue to be enforced at all F1 grand prix venues this season.

MotoGP squad Monster Energy Yamaha is facing a similar COVID-19 reality check, as six of its engineers will be unable to attend this weekend’s race at Le Mans.

“Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Motor Racing Srl regret to announce that six Yamaha MotoGP Group engineers, including YZR-M1 Project Leader Takahiro Sumi, will be unable to attend this weekend‘s Grand Prix de France,” the Yamaha statement read.

Due to travel restrictions around Europe several Yamaha MotoGP staff have been staying in the country of Andorra between rounds.

After taking the regular Polymerase Chain Reaction test on Monday before departing Andorra one of the Yamaha crew members tested positive to COVID-19, while the other five members came back negative.

The following day the test was repeated and returned with identical results confirming that the one crew member has COVID-19. At this stage the infected engineer is not showing any signs of illness but will continue to be closely monitored by medical staff.

Although only one crew member tested positive the other five engineers within the travel group have been forced to self-isolate and miss the French GP.

Despite not attending the event, Sumi and the five engineers will assist the team remotely offering assistance and advice to the substitute staff called in for the Le Mans round.

Next week a decision will be made on the Andorra situated groups participation in the upcoming events.

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