It has not been a good week for Formula One – first, Honda announced they were bailing in 2021 and now, a member of the dominant Mercedes team has tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus just days before this weekend’s 2020 Eifel Grand Prix scheduled to be run at Germany’s famed Nurburgring track.
Mercedes will not reveal the identity of the particular team member who contracted the virus but has confirmed that it is neither of their two drivers, Lewis Hamilton or Valtteri Bottas.
Mercedes said the situation was “being handled in line with FIA protocols”.
To make matters worse, last week, Formula 1 announced the highest number of positive tests in a week since the season resumed, with 10 personnel involved with the sport contracting the virus after the conclusion of the 2020 Russian Grand Prix [held in Sochi, where fans were allowed to attend and restrictions were minimal as many in attendance were not wearing masks nor social distancing].