McLaren withdraw from Australian GP

McLaren have withdrawn from the Australian Grand Prix after a team member tested positive for the coronavirus. The team member had been in self isolation since Wednesday.

The season opening Australian Grand Prix is once again in serious doubt after McLaren withdrew from the round.

"McLaren Racing has confirmed this evening in Melbourne that it has withdrawn from the 2020 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, following the positive test of a team member for the coronavirus," read a statement from the team. "The team member was tested and self-isolated as soon as they started to show symptoms and will now be treated by local healthcare authorities.

"The team has prepared for this eventuality and has ongoing support in place for its employee who will now enter a period of quarantine. The team is cooperating with the relevant local authorities to assist their investigations and analysis.

"Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and Andreas Seidl, Team Principal of McLaren F1, informed Formula 1 and the FIA of the decision this evening. 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."

Australian health officials had previously stated that any team with even one case of the virus would be placed in complete quarantine although there is yet to be any word on this particular situation.

Haas, who had four team members in self isolation, have been given the all clear.

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