Amid the global Coronavirus scare, five F1 personnel have been quarantined in Melbourne ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. The team members are from Haas and McLaren.
A McLaren team member was placed into quarantine at the Pan-Pacific Hotel after reporting that they felt unwell. Four other Haas team members – 3 mechanics and 1 engineer – were placed under quarantine in a similar precaution after showing symptoms of the virus. The team members are being tested for the Coronavirus and should receive the results of the tests Thursday afternoon.
The teams involved may be forced to run the race weekend short-staffed. Furthermore, if the personnel test positive for the illness, this may lead to further quarantines.
Drivers are being advised not to interact with fans, with scheduled autograph sessions having been cancelled for the weekend.
Formula One has received heavy criticism for attempting to go ahead with plans to run the 2020 season, with many other sports opting to delay or cancel their seasons. A number of sporting events have been postponed so far, including the Chinese Grand Prix and, potentially, the upcoming Vietnamese Grand Prix scheduled for next month.
