One positive test will wipe out a team for a grand prix weekend - Abiteboul

Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul has warned a team will sit out a Formula 1 grand prix if one race personnel tests positive for Covid-19.

F1 has already decided to significantly relax the regularity of Covid-19 testing this season from two days to five.

It has previously been suggested that given the bubble system that will operate within teams that no marque would be forced out of a weekend should a test return positive. Abiteboul has now suggested otherwise.

"I think it's a balance between the risk and the practicality and the necessity of the operation," Abiteboul told a press conference of invited media, including GPFans. "That balance is difficult to find.

"I think the biggest challenge really would be in the implementation of the operational group and subgroup so that if there is a positive case, it remains limited to a subgroup because there is a risk, and that is still again the dialogue we are having.

"There's a risk that one person, one single person in the team [tests positive], and that the whole team immediately is out, at least for the time of the test because the basis is that the test can take a full day, 24 hours.

"We can see if that test, a positive case happening on a Saturday morning, you are not going to qualify and you're not going to participate in the race."

Abiteboul hopes a sensible solution can be reached that would ensure a team is not denied from competing, although he acknowledged the considerable amount of work that has already gone into returning F1 to the track.

He added: "I see that we still need to have a little bit of a discussion about how to balance risk and common sense and participation in the sport even though I completely understand and praise again the work that has been done between the FIA and the teams."

Before you go...

Mugello "would be insane" in 2020 F1 cars - Ricciardo.

Albon gets 'back into that racing mindset' at Silverstone

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Toto Wolff shares fresh concerns over Kimi Antonelli F1 mistakes after maiden win

• 32 minutes ago

Aston Martin and Adrian Newey set for F1 cost cap boost after FIA twist

• 1 hour ago

Max Verstappen told to speak to F1 rivals after causing storm over new 2026 rules

• 2 hours ago

F1 News Today: Adrian Newey to step down at Aston Martin as legend 'chooses' his own replacement

• 3 hours ago

Max Verstappen ally claims bad Red Bull start has triggered F1 champion's fury

• Yesterday 22:55

Lewis Hamilton out, Oscar Piastri's big mistake and a sliding doors F1 moment

• Yesterday 21:55