McLaren pulls out of Australian GP after Lewis Hamilton slams organisers

Lewis Hamilton slams Formula 1 organisers ahead of this weekend’s GP following a team member’s positive test.

‘It is really shocking that we are sitting in this room’ … Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton at the Melbourne Grand Prix on Thursday. Picture: Getty

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation was in urgent talks late Thursday night with Victorian Health authorities and Formula 1’s governing bodies about the future of the Melbourne Grand Prix in the wake of a McLaren team member testing positive for the coronavirus.

In a statement late Thursday, the AGPC said seven of eight personnel from Formula 1 teams that were tested for the COVID-19 virus had returned a negative result, but the positive test for the McLaren team member had led to the team’s withdrawal from the event and consideration being given to its broader implications.

“The Australian Grand Prix Corporation and Formula 1 have been advised by the Victorian Chief Health Officer of the results of tests relating to eight personnel from the Formula 1 Paddock,” AGPC chief executive officer Andrew Westacott said.

“Of these eight tests, seven individuals have returned a negative result confirming that they do not have the COVID-19 virus. An eighth individual has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

“It has been confirmed that the individual was a member of the McLaren Racing Team. As a result of this, McLaren has announced its withdrawal from the Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2020,” Mr Westacott said.

Formula 1 and the FIA have have been coordinating with all the relevant authorities on the next steps. Our priority is the safety of the fans, the teams and all personnel at the race.

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 12, 2020

“The AGPC is currently in discussions with Formula 1, the FIA and the Department of Health and Human Services in relation to the broader implications of this test result.”

Mr Westacott said a ninth person had also been tested for coronavirus, with the results yet to be known. “This individual is not associated with any Formula 1 team, the FIA or associated suppliers.”

The AGPC said it would provide updates as further details become available.

The McLaren team pulled out of the Melbourne Grand Prix on Thursday night after a team member tested positive for COVID-19, throwing this weekend’s Formula One race into disarray.

McLaren said it had prepared for the result and the team member would “now be treated by local healthcare authorities”. McLaren would co-operate in any investigation and analysis.

“The decision has been taken based on a duty of care not only to McLaren F1 employees and partners but also to the team’s competitors, Formula 1 fans and wider F1 stakeholders,” McLaren said.

McLaren Racing withdraws from the 2020 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. pic.twitter.com/BZvHVKQoev

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 12, 2020

The decision is a blow to race organisers, who said seven other team members had returned negative results to the virus.

Earlier, the best Formula One driver in the world, Lewis Hamilton, launched a scathing attack on race organisers for going ahead with the race as the coronavirus threat escalates worldwide.

The Mercedes driver said his sport was falling behind in its ­response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, and suggested organisers were putting money before safety. “I am really very, very surprised we are here. I think motorsport is great but … it is really shocking that we are sitting in this room,” the six-time F1 world champion said at a drivers’ press conference on the opening day of the four-day event.

“Already this morning you’ve seen (Donald) Trump shutting the borders of the US to Europe, the NBA has been suspended, but Formula One continues to go on.”

Asked why he thought the event was proceeding, Hamilton said “cash is king”.

Hamilton said he was worried about elderly people he had seen around the track for the first day of the event, which is expected to draw about 300,000 people across the four days.

“I really hope (the fans) take precautions. Walking through and seeing everything going ahead … like it’s a normal day, but I don’t think it really is. I really hope we get through this weekend and don’t see any fatalities.”

Already eight F1 team members have been tested for corona­virus in the past two days, Victorian authorities confirmed. The teams involved include Haas and McLaren.

The results are yet to be revealed, but if any come back positive, race organisers will be under enormous pressure to cancel the event, or hold it with no spectators.

“We will be taking no chances in terms of close contacts of those people and any positive cases that are identified, they are already being interviewed as we speak,” said Victoria’s deputy chief health officer, Annaliese van Diemen.

“We are already identifying who their contacts may be and they will be placed into immediate quarantine and then it will be a ­decision for the teams in the Grand Prix as to the ability of them to continue their participation.”

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said her government was following advice there was no need to cancel mass gatherings, and as many people walked through the CBD each day as would be at the race. “We’ve got significant community intermingling happening every single day … that represents a risk and this is why I’ve been stressing … that we take those necessary precautions around hand hygiene, we stay home if we’re unwell, we get the medical advice that we need,” she said.

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner said an engineer and three mechanics from his team had been tested for coronavirus.

Australian Medical Association Victorian president Julian Rait suggested people not attend the race.