Alfa Romeo team principal to miss pre-season testing after positive Covid test

Alfa Romeo has confirmed team principal Frédéric Vasseur will not attend Formula 1 pre-season testing after testing positive for Covid-19.

On the eve of the three-day test, Alfa Romeo has released a statement announcing that it will operate without Vasseur being on-site in Bahrain.

The statement read that, although Vasseur returned a negative result when tested again two-days after his original positive test, "in the interests of safety of Mr Vasseur himself, the team, all fellow competitors and the whole community and in respect of French regulations, Mr Vasseur will not travel to Bahrain and will continue operating from home for the next seven days, as required by the local authorities."

Alfa Romeo does not expect the situation to impact its planned operations for the week with Vasseur to carry out his duties remotely from his home in France.

As such, there is no plan for the team to announce a deputy team principal to oversee the test.

Of his condition, Alfa Romeo added: "Mr Vasseur does not display symptoms and is in good spirits."

Statement by the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Team ? pic.twitter.com/8L2Cx0DxL0

— Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) March 11, 2021