Mercedes turns the ignition back on… by limiting contacts

“Advance masked”: one could say that Mercedes has been used to doing this for years in winter testing, she who often hides her hand and the extent of her performances during the off-season. 

In 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the expression applies in broad daylight, as we saw this Tuesday at Silverstone, where the six-time world champion team returned to the track for the start of the season , planned for Austria at the beginning of July. 

Objectives: to allow the regular drivers, who have not driven since February 28 and the end of winter testing in Barcelona, ​​to resume their brand, and for mechanics and engineers to review the new procedures in the time of Covid- 19. 

W09, looking mighty fine We've missed these shots! pic.twitter.com/VE77c7jWjO

—Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) June 9, 2020

All staff present on the circuit which will host two Grands Prix this summer were subject to negative screening beforehand, while everyone wore masks on site, including Valtteri Bottas, physical distancing not being possible at all times in the garage. The Finn, who was driving the 09 Mercedes W2018 and under the eye of Toto wolff, team principal and CEO of the team, judged this day of ro“useful” training to acclimatize to the new reality on the ground.

Lewis Hamilton will take over from his teammate on Wednesday. 

Face coverings are particularly important for the team as social distancing is not possible for every role in the garage pic.twitter.com/Q1d3RNtbWR

- Mercedes-AMG F1 (@ MercedesAMGF1) June 9, 2020