Grosjean: Not easy to respect the Covid-19 protocol permanently

What is the life of a pilot like? Formula 1 in the time of Covid-19? Physical distancing, hand washing, wearing a mask: all these measures are now well known and applicable outside the car, in an Austrian Grand Prix paddock redesigned to avoid any contact between the teams. 

But what will happen in the heat of the moment? When will the driver need help getting into the car, for example? Or that it will be necessary to make a quick change on the car in the garage ? If most of the stables were able to review the new sanitary procedures, this was not the case for Haas, which will also not bring any changes to the VF-20 until the American team’s budget is completed. 

Romain Grosjean described his preparations to us ahead of the resumption of the season during an online press conference reserved for French media. Even though the Haas driver was a few dozen meters from us at Red Bull Ring, we had to use this medium because the journalists present on site are confined to the heights of the media center, located on the other side of the track.  

Together but apart: the era of remote press conferences is not yet over. Here with @RGrosjean and our colleagues from the French press, some of whom are a few meters from us in the media center. #F1 pic.twitter.com/VYQsHVmK85

— Julien Billiotte (@jbilliotte) July 2, 2020

« We got back into our habits, we walked around the track, and did the first TV interviews, confided the Frenchman. Obviously, they are a little different: you have to wear a mask and stay away. We don't have human contact. 

Apart from the fact that we're not allowed to hug the mechanics we haven't seen for months, things are pretty normal. Preparation goes as usual ». 

The Haas driver, however, recognized that respecting the Covid-19 code of conduct to the letter was going to prove complicated at times. 

« I admit that there is a good chance that we will make small mistakes and that we will not follow the protocol 100%., added Grosjean. When you get out of the car in qualifying, for example, you have to keep your helmet and gloves on. I typically know that when I come home, I have the habit of taking off my gloves between two attempts to cool off. 

Do I have the right or not the right? What about weighing? And if we sign a big result, we will want to fall into each other's arms, but we don't necessarily have the right. There may be times when things are not 100% controlled. We will try to stay on track as much as possible ». 

Remember that all people present on site have had a negative Covid-19 screening and will be tested at regular intervals. 

Just checking all the corners are still there # HaasF1 #AustrianGP #TrackWalk pic.twitter.com/tTvzmxXw2F

- Haas F1 Team (@ HaasF1Team) July 2, 2020