Perez or Hülkenberg this weekend? National Health England to decide

Racing Point

Perez or Hülkenberg this weekend? National Health England to decide

Racing Point is awaiting clarity on a testing "ambiguity"

Ian Parkes

Monday 3 August 2020 16:18

Racing Point will adhere to National Health England guidance on whether Sergio Perez will be able to race in this weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix following "ambiguity" over his positive Covid test.

Perez was initially tested on Wednesday of last week, which drew what was deemed as an inconclusive result. A re-test followed on Thursday, which was declared positive, so ruling him out of the British Grand Prix.

On Thursday, UK government legislation came into force that anyone testing positive for coronavirus would have to quarantine for 10 days, up from the seven days that had been previously been recommended, so seemingly ruling Perez out of the second race at Silverstone.

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Team principal Otmar Szafnauer has now clarified as to why Racing Point has yet to declare whether Perez or replacement Nico Hülkenberg will take part this weekend.

"We will adhere to the guidance of National Health England," said Szafnauer. "We will do what they say, and I'm not sure [whether it is] seven or 10-day quarantine still.

"There are conflicting reports, but we will get guidance from the right people at National Health England and follow that."

Szafnauer added: "A little bit of the confusion is because it was on that cusp, and the inconclusive test was only inconclusive by FIA standards. By National Health England standards that inconclusive test on Wednesday would have been positive.

"So you can look at it and say, 'Well, it's the National Health England standard, so positive on Wednesday already'. On Wednesday you had to quarantine for seven days.

"The 10 days that came in the following day may or may not be retroactive, and that's the bit I don't know. So we'll ask the question of National Health England, and whatever they say that's what we'll do. We'll comply with whatever they deem is right in this situation.

"But I think ambiguity comes in because it was just on that transition point."

Szafnauer has confirmed sporting director Andy Stevenson is working on the matter with National Health England.

"They will tell us relatively soon," added Szafnauer. "We just need to know before Friday. We've got a bit of time. But we want to do what's right, and we'll follow their guidance for sure.

"Even if it's only a seven-day quarantine period, he still has to test negative by the Covid code of conduct that the FIA has out there, so will endeavour to test him on Thursday and if he is positive then he can't come into the paddock anyway."

Before you go...

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