© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Lewis Hamilton has tested positive to COVID-19 on Tuesday and was forced to miss the Sakhir Grand Prix. However, he is feeling better.
The question now is will he test negative early enought so that he can travel to Abu Dhabi in time. Mercedes would surely like to avoid not knowing who their driver will be until the last minute. Not to mention Williams, who also depend on this development, as their driver George Russell is obviously the first choince to replace Hamilton again if he doesn’t return.
According to Bahrain’s COVID-19 protocols, everybody who enters the country has to go into a 14-day quarantine. Formula 1 was allowed to avoid these restrictions, but the teams need to leave the country today (Monday) under controlled conditions.
If Lewis Hamilton is still positive, he won’t be albe to leave with everybody else. He could leave at a later date in a private jet, but he will have to obtain a special permission.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says Lewis’ car is waiting for him as soon as he recovers.
“I think if Lewis recovers, and is getting better every day, and he’s been considered COVID free, negative, then he will be in the car,” said the Austrian after the Sakhir Grand Prix.
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According to FIA race director Michael Masi, Hamilton’s ability to be in Abu Dhabi in time for the race also depends on the governments of the two countries involved.
“Obviously the main part with all of this has always been complying with the respective governments, laws and regulations,” said Masi.
“So it’s very much a decision for the Bahraini health authorities to determine if Lewis is fit and complies with their regulations, and then further for the Abu Dhabi authorities to determine their criteria.
“So it’s effectively two government entities that need to determine entry criteria. If he meets the entry criteria of the respective governments and then further complies with the testing protocol from an FIA perspective, in being tested negative prior to entering the paddock, then there’s no problems from our perspective.”
As for the FIA, if Hamilton makes it to qualifying on Saturday, he is permitted to race.
“Within the current framework of the regulations, similar to what was used in Nurburgring, as long as the driver participates in a practice session, or qualifying, they’re permitted to race,” Masi explained.
“So technically here and now a driver only has to fulfil one of those criteria.
“So they couldn’t just turn up and race, as their only thing, they would have to do one of the practice sessions, be it free practice or qualifying practice beforehand.”
