F1 driver Sergio Perez tests positive for COVID-19

Sergio-Perez

Racing Point driver Sergio Perez steers his car during the first practice session for the Styrian Formula One Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, July 10, 2020. (Leonhard Foeger/Pool via AP)

Formula One driver Sergio Perez will not race at the British Grand Prix after testing positive for COVID-19.

The Racing Point driver was self-isolating after an inconclusive result then completed a re-test on Thursday which returned a positive result. Racing Point said that a small group of team members who were in contact with Perez were self-isolating as a precaution and being re-tested.

Perez is the first F1 driver to test positive for the coronavirus.

“Perez has entered self-quarantine in accordance with the instructions of the relevant public health authorities, and will continue to follow the procedure mandated by those authorities,” Formula One and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) said in a statement.

“With assistance of the local organizer of the British Grand Prix, local health authorities and the FIA COVID-19 delegate, a full track and trace initiative has been undertaken and all close contacts have been quarantined. The procedures set out by the FIA and Formula 1 have provided for swift containment of an incident that will have no wider impact on this weekend’s event.”

Racing Point says it intends on racing two cars this weekend. The race at Silverstone on Sunday will be the fourth in the pandemic-affected season.

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