Pirelli – the sole tire supplier for Formula One races – announced that one of their team members tested positive for coronavirus while in Melbourne preparing for the 2020 Australian Grand Prix last week.
It is the second positive test for coronavirus – following that of a McLaren employee – which ultimately led to the cancellation of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The McLaren team member is now reportedly symptom free and Pirelli said their team member is “following all the relevant procedures put in place by the health authorities”.
The coronavirus has been responsible for the cancellation or postponement of the first four races of the F1 season – those in Australia, Bahrain, China and Vietnam – with two more races in the Netherlands [May 3] and Spain [May 10], expected to be officially cancelled or postponed.
F1 has announced that they are aiming to begin the 2020 racing season in Europe at the end of May [possibly with the Monaco Grand Prix].