Renault Sport Academy driver Christian Lundgaard will miss the FIA Formula 2 (F2) Championship pre-season test due to COVID-19 quarantine.
Lundgaard, who is to make his F2 debut in 2020, was to test with ART Grand Prix alongside Ferrari junior Marcus Armsrtong and 20 others at Bahrain International Circuit, for the first pre-season test of the new season on March 1-3.
The Dane had been training at Tenerife – an island in Spain – ahead of his travel to Bahrain. But with the hotel in which he was staying under lockdown due to the spread of COVID-19 a.k.a coronavirus, Lundgaard is detained there as per quarantine norms.
The statement from ART and Renault states that Lundgaard has not shown any symptoms of the virus but as precautionery measure, he has to stay back for two weeks at least, which will force him to miss the three-day test at Bahrain.
The statement stated: “Regrettably, due to a genuine force majeure situation, Danish racer Christian Lundgaard will be unable to take part in the official FIA Formula 2 tests in Bahrain from 1 – 3 March 2020.
“Over the past week, Christian, 18, has been participating in a winter training camp in Tenerife organized by Renault Sport Academy, however he has been detained on the island following an outbreak of the Coronavirus in his hotel.
“Christian has been checked by medical experts and is fit and well and not displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, however the governing authorities have ruled all guests of the hotel must remain in quarantine for two weeks as a precaution against the spread of the virus.
“Renault Sport Academy, ART and Christian Lundgaard would like to thank you for your wishes. No further announcement will be made on this unprecedented situation.” There is no update regarding the other academy drivers on the same.
This not the first news coming out from Bahrain regarding the test. Ever since the Kingdom put in strict measures, there were long delays at the border, especially for those coming in from the affected areas like Italy, where teams like Prema and Trident originate.
Not just the feeder series but it has put off F1 in a major situation as well, where the Chinese GP has been postponed and Vietnam GP under threat – even though the latter is gearing up full on for its first grand prix in April.
UPDATE: ART has informed that Sergey Sirotkin will drive Lundgaard’s car for the three-day F2 test at Bahrain.
Here’s the test dates for F2 in 2020
Here’s details on the race numbers to used with no #19
Here’s the links to the five episodes of F2: Chasing The Dream docu
Here’s details on the changed F2 and F3 regulation for 2020
Photo: Vietnam GP F1 circuit work completes as questions remains
