Mercedes F1 drivers trust team won’t be ‘disturbed’ by positive COVID case

Mercedes Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have full confidence in their team not to be affected by the positive COVID-19 test for one of its staff members.

On Thursday, Mercedes confirmed an unnamed team member had tested positive for coronavirus ahead of this weekend’s Eifel Grand Prix, marking the first time team personnel have been impacted by the disease since Sergio Perez was forced to miss both Silverstone races.

World championship leader Hamilton explained that the positive case highlighted that coronavirus remains a very real threat to the F1 community and stressed he will continue to do everything possible in order to minimise the risk of infection.

“Naturally, it’s sad to hear that,” Hamilton said.

“We obviously had this week in between [races], and those guys work so hard to stay safe and be here on the weekend so it’s definitely a concern.

“It’s obviously important for everyone around the world to know, to be continuously reminded that this thing has not disappeared.

“It’s still here. We still need to continue to follow protocols and wear masks, and keep our hands clean, keep our distances.

“I can’t say what it’s going to do to our weekend,” he added. “We have a lot of great people within our team, it’s not just about one person.

“So we’ll try and make him proud this weekend and it’s just going to take a different type of work, or it’s going to take a lot of work still, to make sure that we continue on without any disturbances.”

Mercedes communicated that the situation is “being handled in line with FIA protocols, working closely with the FIA”.

Bottas, who trimmed Hamilton’s championship lead down to 44 points after his second victory of the season at the Russian Grand Prix, says he has full confidence and trust in Mercedes to keep its staff safe.

“For sure, as a driver, the last thing you want is to get it,” Bottas explained. “It would definitely mean at least missing one race, maybe even more – and we had one example of that already.

“So, of course, [we’re] being as cautious as you can and, you know, following the protocols and being sensible, staying in the bubble.

“Sometimes it can be a matter of luck, because it’s pretty contagious. But we’re all trying to do the best we can not to get it.

“Of course it’s unfortunate that one team member got it but I fully trust the team is handling everything, following all the protocols and doing everything we can to be able to make sure it stops there in that one case. I have all the trust in that.”