Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola tests positive for COVID-19

Pirelli Formula 1 tyre chief Mario Isola has tested positive for COVID-19 following the Turkish Grand Prix.

The positive test was confirmed by the FIA, F1 and the championship’s official tyre supplier Pirelli in a statement issued on Monday following the latest round of screening.

Isola appeared in the pre-race press conference on Friday at Istanbul Park alongside Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Haas team principal Guenther Steiner.

But F1 confirmed that all of Isola’s close contacts have been traced and re-tested, with no further positive results being returned.

"The FIA, Formula 1 and Pirelli can confirm that Pirelli Head of F1 and Car Racing Mario Isola has tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday 15 November at the Turkish Grand Prix," the statement read.

"Mario returned a positive result during the regular Sunday COVID testing schedule. He is now isolating, and is asymptomatic and will adhere to the local medical guidelines.

"All close contacts have been declared, retested, and no further positive cases have been returned.”

Isola has worked as a volunteer ambulance driver and paramedic in his native Italy for the last 30 years alongside his motorsport roles and served on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic in his home country earlier this year. 

F1’s most recent update on COVID-19 testing figures was released on Friday, confirming that there had been a total of eight positive cases out of 2,543 tests conducted.

Acting Williams team principal Simon Roberts, who missed this weekend’s race in Turkey, was among those to have tested positive for coronavirus.

Racing Point drivers Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll remain the only drivers that have been publicly confirmed as having tested positive for coronavirus this season.