Lundgaard looks back on his confinement in Tenerife: “I told myself that I would rather be alive”

What were you doing in Tenerife at that time?

We were in preparation training with the Renault Sports Academy. There were quite a few pilots, but we weren't necessarily all there at the same time. It depended on everyone's schedule. I arrived on February 16, a day later than planned due to a plane problem. I was supposed to stay until the 25th. Having arrived earlier, Max Fewtrell and Oscar piastri left between the 22nd and the 24th. I was supposed to leave on the 25th, but the quarantine started that day…

What was your reaction ?

I didn't react too much actually. Friends asked me if I had been angry at not being able to do FIA pre-season testing F2 in Bahrain. I'm obviously disappointed, but I quickly saw it differently: I told myself that I would rather be alive, not be sick, and not have to go to the hospital. How could I have ridden if I had been sick? I prefer to take care of my health first. I'm happy to be back healthy.

Have you worried about your health?

Not really. In fact, there were five infected Italians in the hotel. One of them was a doctor and was directly placed in quarantine. The group he was with, too. So there wasn't much risk. The common areas of the hotel were available. I wasn't too afraid of being contaminated because it mainly affects people with weak immune systems, like the elderly. But we have to take care of them, because one day, we will be in their place.

How did you spend your days at the hotel?

Let’s say we extended the internship (smile). It was a 5 star hotel, so it wasn't that bad. The first 12 days, we trained really hard, around 3 hours a day, because we were there to prepare and there was no question of coming back from there out of shape. The fitter you are physically, the easier it is in the car. But the last two days, Caio Collet and I did nothing, simply enjoyed a little rest between Netflix series and sunbathing around the pool.

Did you have a simulator on site?

No, not even. Max Fewtrell had his Playstation and a few controllers. We mostly played Call of Duty.

Did it bring you closer to the other drivers?

In fact, there were mainly three of us in quarantine: Caïo Collet, Hadrien David and me. I didn't know much about Hadrien before. By name obviously, but we never spoke too much, only once during a media day at enstone (Renault Sport headquarters F1, in England. Editor’s note). We got to know each other, and now we feel like we’ve known each other for 10 years (he bursts out laughing). Caio and I were teammates in karting, so we already knew each other very well.

Were you able to return to Denmark after that?

Not at all. I don't want to go because if I go I will be quarantined there for another 14 days. I haven't seen my family for a month and a half, it's true that it's starting to be a long time.