Tost: Italy in lockdown is 'scary' and 'ghostly'
Tost: Italy in lockdown is 'scary' and 'ghostly'
AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost has described Italy as "really scary" and "ghostly" with the country in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tost returned to Italy earlier this week following the cancelled Australian Grand Prix to discover an "unusual" atmosphere.
"When I drove from Rome to Faenza for a good two hours, I met maybe 20 cars along the way. The highway was empty," he told Speedweek.
"You don't see anyone on the street here either, the whole life takes place in people's homes. We have a curfew, and you can only avoid it if you go grocery shopping, or to the pharmacy, or doctor, or to work."
Suggested to Tost the television images were reminiscent of a disaster film, he added: "Yes, it's really scary, all of that.
"You look out of the window on the street and there is not a human soul to be discovered. We are used to the fact people in Italy like to stay on vacation, Italians are sociable people anyway. It is ghostly."
Despite Italy being the worst-hit country, Tost has confirmed no team member has yet contracted COVID-19.
"Everyone in the racing team is healthy," continued Tost. "Fortunately, we have never had an infection.
"But I also have to say that we introduced very strict rules right from the start. This happened before the trip to the winter test in Barcelona.
"We said that employees who come from the so-called red zone, that was Lombardy or Veneto at the time, not the whole country, they have to stay at home and work from there. You can no longer come to the racing car factory.
"Then we cancelled all visits, both for suppliers and guests. We also had some plans for the tests in Spain, as far as guests were concerned, we cancelled everything so that we could isolate ourselves a little. So far, this has proven itself."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton dealt China blow after major FIA decision as Ricciardo given huge Horner warning - GPFans F1 Recap
- 3 hours ago
F1 team unveil star-studded lineup in China
- Yesterday 23:12
F1 Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 22:27
Horner delivers threat to Ricciardo over Red Bull pressure
- Yesterday 21:57
F1 Sprint Race Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 21:27
Wolff left FUMING with Mercedes despite amazing Hamilton lap
- Yesterday 20:57
Related news
Who is Ayumu Iwasa? The Red Bull junior replacing Daniel Ricciardo at F1 Japanese GP
Ricciardo fired F1 WARNING by rival with RB future on line
F1 star admits discomfort with Netflix at difficult stage in career
Lawson's x-rated response after Ricciardo Red Bull battle revealed
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860