Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Sergio Pérez’s COVID-19 positive result is a “brutal reminder” to Formula One of the dangers he still faces around the world.
The FIA announced Thursday that Pérez had tested positive for COVID-19 after an inconclusive first result, him from the Weekend of Racing of the British Grand Prix.
This is the first case of COVID-19 for an F1 driving force and is only the third positive result since F1 began its strict testing and tracking protocols in Austria before this month.
The groups worked with a small man on the site and placed “bubbles” in position to decrease contact between team members and reduce the dangers involved.
But Red Bull leader Horner said the positive test result of Perez’s control showed that F1 deserves to be alert and aware of the dangers of contracting COVID-19.
“It’s a stark reminder,” Horner said at Friday’s FIA press convention in Silverstone.
“Sometimes, in Formula One, we feel a little remote and we’re all in our own bubbles anyway.
“But I think when perez comes up with a driving force that is affected that way, it’s a clear reminder that those procedures are there for a reason.
“It’s very difficult, but it’s a clear reminder that this isn’t gone yet. She’s still here.
“This is where, as a group, as Formula 1, we have this field with the established procedures.
“I think it was well managed and executed well through the FIA and the team.”
Pérez remains asymptomatic despite his positive control and explained his resolve to Mexico via personal aircraft after the last race in Hungary, which was in the FIA code of conduct.
Pérez has not been the only driving force abroad since the last race in Hungary, with the driving force of Haas Romain Grosjean taking a holiday in Greece before arriving in Silverstone.
Haas F1 leader Guenther Steiner said it was vital that F1 remained guilty and that all members of his team were tasked with following FIA guidelines.
“The FIA and the team have treated it well because we simply allow other people to stick to the rules and do nothing different, but we know it can happen,” Steiner said.
“As we discovered, can everyone, once again, there is a smart reaction to restrict it, so that it spreads further, so we have to be guilty for each of us.
“We can’t stick to each and every user to [see] what they’re doing outdoors on the circuits, so I hope we can all be guilty and that sooner or later this virus will disappear.
“Our team is here to behave according to guidelines.”