Pirelli Motorsport has announced that one of its traveling members has been tested positive for COVID-19 and is being treated in Melbourne.
Days after McLaren confirmed its F1 team member catching the coronavirus while traveling to Australia, Pirelli has announced the same on Monday, with one of its personnel having a positive test result, as he undergoes treatment in Melbourne.
Italian manufacturer, Pirelli, is working with the Australian health authorities for the well-being of its member. Fortunately, he did not come in contact with multiple personnel with the company, which would have required more to be put under quarantine.
The second F1 member joins the 14 others from McLaren, who are in Melbourne currently, serving the isolation period. Although it is just the one member to have caught the COVID-19, but the Woking-based team was forced to keep other people as precaution.
Despite the long travel, F1 has seen less personnel being diagnosed with the virus in what is a good news amid the gloom of a last-minute cancellation. The returning people are to self-isolate as a measure to not spread it if at all they are carrying it.
There will be no racing until at least May with the Dutch GP being the first for now. However, with the evolving situation, the 2020 F1 season may not start until June or even later. It remains to be seen how they adjust the calendar using August and December.
Here’s the statement from Pirelli:
“A member of the Pirelli F1 team has yesterday tested positive for COVID-19 in Melbourne. The person concerned is now following all the relevant procedures put in place by the Australian health authorities.
“These authorities have confirmed to Pirelli that this person has not had any contact with third parties that requires special preventive measures to be taken for other people. Pirelli is closely monitoring the situation in line with public health policies and company guidelines.”
Here’s update from McLaren regarding their current situation
Here’s Chase Carey, Ross Brawn on all what transpire and future
Here’s Ferrari halting work at their base
Here’s what F1 teams/drivers said about the recent developments
Here’s F1 calling off the South Africa Fan Festival
Here’s latest on Dutch and Spanish F1 races
Here’s news on F1 postponing Baharain, Vietnam