Racing Point F1 team owner Lawrence Stroll also had coronavirus

The owner of the Racing Point Formula 1 team, Lawrence Stroll, also tested positive for coronavirus, Crash.net has learned.

Racing Point driver Lance Stroll revealed on Wednesday he had tested positive for COVID-19 after the Eifel Grand Prix weekend, having returned home on the morning of the race and taken a test later that day.

The Canadian said he feels in “great shape” and will return to action at this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix after missing the Nurburgring race due to illness.

It has since emerged that Stroll’s father Lawrence, who owns the Silverstone outfit, has also contracted coronavirus.

A team spokesperson confirmed to Crash.net that Stroll Sr visited Aston Martin’s UK headquarters on Thursday 8 October and took a routine test which returned a negative result on the Friday.

Having returned home to Switzerland over the weekend, Stroll had another test on Sunday evening - in line with Racing Point’s protocols - which came back positive.

Stroll did not travel to attend either the Russian Grand Prix on 27 September or the Eifel Grand Prix on 11 October.

The Canadian businessman was asymptomatic and completed the mandatory 10-day period of isolation as per Switzerland’s quarantine regulations.

Stroll, who has not attended a race since the Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello last month, has since returned to work.

Given the timeline of their respective movements, neither Lance nor Stroll came into contact with each over the Eifel Grand Prix weekend prior to their positive tests.

Racing Point released a statement on Wednesday to clarify the timeline around Stroll’s positive COVID-19 test as CEO and team principal Otmar Szafnauer insisted that all protocols were followed.

Defending the team’s handling of the situation, Szafnauer revealed that Stroll’s doctor advised that a COVID-19 test was not necessary as the 21-year-old’s symptoms - which included an upset stomach - did not indicate that he had coronavirus.

“He consulted with a doctor who did not believe his symptoms indicated Covid-19 and did not advise a test was necessary,” Szafnauer said.

“Based on this clinical assessment, at the time there was no requirement to inform the FIA as to the nature of the illness.”