Coronavirus: F1 Hits the Ground Running!
Drivers, journalists, team members... No one is spared by the global pandemic. However, the FIA has taken beneficial measures, here are the results.
The realization is dizzying: it’s already been 8 months since the drivers and teams have been living like everyone else in the era of the coronavirus.
If the Formula 1 season resumed as early as July, it was under conditions: a strict health protocol, relaxed towards the end of the summer, allowing a few thousand spectators to attend the Russian, Tuscan, and Eifel Grand Prix.
After 4 months of competition, it’s time to take stock of the health situation in F1. Do you know how many tests the FIA conducts each week? How many cases have tested positive over the months?
Motors Inside offers you a summary table, according to FIA press releases:
| Date | Period | Number of tests | Positive cases | |
| 1 | October 16 | 09/10 – 15/10 | 1,506 | 8 |
| 2 | October 02 | 25/09 – 01/10 | 1,822 | 10 |
| 3 | September 25 | 18/09 – 24/09 | 3,256 | 7 |
| 4 | September 18 | 11/09 – 17/09 | 1,938 | 1 |
| 5 | September 11 | 04/09 – 10/09 | 5,589 | 1 |
| 6 | September 04 | 28/08 – 03/09 | 5,704 | 2 |
| 7 | August 28 | 21/08 – 27/08 | 3,591 | 1 |
| 8 | August 21 | 14/08 – 20/08 | 2,847 | 1 |
| 9 | August 14 | 07/08 – 13/08 | 5,467 | 0 |
| 10 | August 07 | 31/07 – 06/08 | 5,127 | 1 |
| 11 | July 31 | 24/07 – 30/07 | 3,909 | 1 |
| 12 | July 25 | 17/07 – 23/07 | 1,461 | 0 |
| 13 | July 17 | 10/07 – 17/07 | 4,997 | 2 |
| 14 | July 10 | 03/07 – 09/07 | 4,566 | 0 |
| 15 | July 04 | 25/06 – 02/07 | 4,032 | 0 |
Analysis of the painting
– 35 cas avérés de coronavirus entre le 04 juillet et le 16 octobre, ce chiffre paraît peu signifiant lorsqu’on le compare aux chiffres quotidiens en France par exemple, qui oscillent entre les 15 000 et 30 000 cas. L’information capitale est que 25 de ces 35 cas ont été découverts entre le 25 septembre et le 16 octobre, les contaminations s’accélèrent donc dans le paddock, comme en France ou de nombreux pays dans le monde.
– Parmi les cas positifs aucun détail n’est fourni. Nous n’avons aucune appartenance directe à une équipe qui est mentionnée, aucun nom en somme.
– Le nombre plus faible de tests effectués lors des communiqués du 25 juillet, 21 août, 18 septembre s’explique par le simple fait qu’une pause a été effectuée en F1, après trois courses consécutives. Même si les cas semblent plus nombreux entre le 25 septembre et le 16 octobre la FIA l’affirme: « La présence de fans n’a pas affecté cette situation car le public n’a pas été autorisé à entrer dans la bulle de la F1 conformément à notre protocole en vigueur. »
Confirmed cases among public figures
Covid-19 affects not only pilots, but also mechanics and journalists. The disease can thus boast of having infected Will Buxton in September. The English journalist from the official Formula 1 media reminded everyone of the safety measures on his Instagram account: « Wash your hands, (Respect) social distancing, be vigilant, think of others… Wear your darn mask. »
On the driver side, everyone noticed at Silverstone in late July the unexpected and spectacular arrival of Nico Hülkenberg following Sergio Perez’s positive test. The Racing Point driver, in this case, opened the ball of infections!
More recently, Lance Stroll admitted to a positive COVID-19 test after the Eifel Grand Prix. However, the latest test for the Canadian is negative. The Racing Point driver will be participating in the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Mechanics, journalists, leaders, pilots, it doesn’t matter to the coronavirus, which affects everyone. One golden rule applies to them, as well as to us readers, writers, and fans: wear your mask!
