No motorhome, checks every two days: the paddock will adapt to Covid-19

It is common knowledge that the “return to life before” the Covid-19 pandemic is not planned for immediately. The paddock of the Formula 1 will not be able to ignore the new standards of life in society.

Ross Brawn, Motor Sports director for Liberty Media, the sport's owner, said from Sky Sports this Monday, May 4 that a health plan would change the functioning of the men and women working within the F1 enclosure.

First of all, tests for the presence of coronavirus will be put in place for everyone wanting to enter the paddock. These will be tested then every two days. We do not currently know the nature of this control (serological, RT-PCR).

“The FIA ​​is doing a fantastic job of putting in place this structure that we need, says Ross Brawn. Everyone will be tested and will need to obtain permission before entering the paddock.

Staff will then be tested every two days, this will be arranged in coordination with a recognized authority. We will probably use the same system for all European events (during summer) », adds the former technical director of Benetton, Ferrari or Brawn GP.

In addition, the imposing structures serving as reception areas for the teams, the motorhomes, will be absent. “There will be restrictions on how individuals can move around the paddock. We cannot practice physical distancing within a team.

Also, we must create an environment that functions as a small isolation bubble and where the teams can stay in their small group. They will not cross paths, they will each stay in their own hotel. »

Remember that the prospect of a start to the season in Austria at the beginning of July depends primarily on the health system put in place by F1, as the Austrian Minister of Sports indicated last week.