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Lewis Hamilton says learning that he won’t be racing at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix due to the COVID-19 crisis was “a shock to the system”.
The 2020 Formula 1 season was supposed to start in March 15, but got cancelled at the last minute after several members of the paddock tested positive for COVID-19. The drivers and staff were all at the track, so the cancellation came as a shock to many of them.
“It’s not that it’s frustrating, I think it was a real shock to the system,” said Hamilton.
“Obviously on that Thursday as I had commented my opinion on whether we have been there and then to wake up the next day, honestly with excitement that I’m going to be getting in the car and then to hear we’re not going to be going to the track, it was very surreal and wasn’t quite sure whether it was going to happen.
“You miss practice one and then practice two went, and qualifying went, but I stayed there through the weekend.
“It was tough, because it’s my 14th year, and every year I know how to get straight into the zone, I know what preparation means or how to be there and ready for that first race, so that we start off better than ever.
“Each year you’re refining that, to try and be better each year and start on the right foot… and we didn’t get to race.”
You can listen to Hamilton talk about this and a lot more on Mercedes’ YouTube “In Conversation With…” series.
