Racing Point F1 team thinks Perez caught COVID-19 from private chef

The Racing Point Formula 1 team believes that Sergio Perez caught COVID-19 from his private chef when he returned from his trip to Mexico.

Perez became the first F1 driver to contract coronavirus and was subsequently ruled out of the British and 70th Anniversary Grands Prix at Silverstone, with Nico Hulkenberg standing in to deputise for the Mexican at both races.

It was initially understood that Perez had caught COVID-19 during a trip home to Mexico to visit his injured mother in the two-week break between the Hungarian and British Grands Prix, but Racing Point does not think that was the source of his infection.

Team principal Otmar Szafnauer suspects that Perez picked up the virus upon his return to Europe from a private chef he specifically hired as a precaution to limit the number of people he came into contact with between races.

“We think he got it from one of the private chefs that he hired,” said Szafnauer. “That, quite frankly, could happen to any one one of us.

“He took every precaution, he flew privately, he stayed with his parents, he didn’t go out to eat.

“And then when he got to Europe he hired a private chef so he wouldn’t go to restaurants and we think he got it from the chef.”

Perez has since returned to F1 action for Racing Point at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, and Szafnauer is pleased to have him back.

"It's really great to see him get over the virus," Szafnauer explained. "When he tested positive, he was full of virus, and he got it out of his system pretty quickly. I think that's just because he's in great shape.

"We hope that he gets back up to speed in the car as well. After FP1, it looked like that's happening.”

Facing questions about his trip to Mexico, Perez denied “bullshit” claims which suggested he had met with sponsors and interacted with fans while back in his home country.

"It's a total lie," Perez said during an interview with F1. "I went to Mexico for two days to see my Mum, with all the precautions in place. I took care of everything. I followed all the guidelines.

"When I was in quarantine, I saw everything. I saw people saying I was taking selfies with a lot of people, and I made up the story about my Mum. So much bullshit, and so disrespectful.

"So many people here in Formula 1 tend to think we are bulletproof to the virus, and that is not the case. We are all very vulnerable to this, We have to take care of it.

"I have done nothing differently to anyone in this paddock, I took all the precautions, and it just happened to me.

"It happened to another friend in another team while I was in quarantine, he said: 'Look, I tested positive too'. It can just happen to anyone.

"But what kind of happened, if tomorrow there is someone else infected, people just make up stories instead of being worried about their health."