Stroll tested positive for Covid-19 after the Eifel GP

The Racing Point driver will make his return to competition this weekend in Portugal.

Published on 21/10/2020 à 10:50

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Stroll tested positive for Covid-19 after the Eifel GP

Lance stroll broke his silence and revealed he tested positive for Coronavirus after the Eifel Grand Prix. The Racing Point driver shared the information in the form of a story broadcast on his Instagram account.

« I just want to let everyone know about my positive Covid-19 test after the Eifel GP weekend, wrote Stroll. I feel 100% and have since tested negative.

Here's what happened: I arrived at the Nürburgring after returning a negative test during the traditional pre-race screenings.

Saturday morning I got sick and started experiencing stomach pains. I followed the FIA protocol and placed myself in isolation in my motor home. I did not return to the paddock. I wasn't able to compete so I flew home Sunday morning. I still felt bad so I was tested again.

The positive result came the next day. So I stayed at home for 10 days. Fortunately, the symptoms were rather mild.

I had a new test this Monday and the result was negative. I feel in great shape and I can't wait to compete again this weekend in Portugal ».

At the Nürburgring, Stroll was replaced at short notice by Nico Hulkenberg, parachuted into the RP20 a few minutes before the start of qualifying. The German came away with honors and moved up from 20th to 8th place in the race.

The Montrealer's positive screening nevertheless raises several questions regarding the health protocol put in place by the FIA this season. Very strict, the latter has been rightly praised on numerous occasions since the start of the season.

Michael Masi, FIA race director, assured in Germany that Stroll's package had not revealed any flaws in the system.

However, the procedure provides for tests at least every 5 days or as soon as symptoms similar to those of Coronavirus appear. Therefore, why was Stroll, who was normally able to enter the paddock on Thursday and Friday, not detected again on Saturday morning?

« Lance didn't have the classic symptoms of Covid-19, he just didn't feel well “, declared his boss Otmar Szafnauer at the time.

It will be interesting to listen to everyone's explanations this week in Portimão.