McLaren CEO Zak Brown takes dig at Racing Point over Covid approach
McLaren CEO Zak Brown takes dig at Racing Point over Covid approach
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has criticised Racing Point over its approach to Covid-19 testing in the wake of the controversy surrounding Lance Stroll's positive case.
Stroll sustained a stomach upset ahead of the recent Eifel Grand Prix that forced him to miss qualifying and the race, and although he self-isolated before flying home to Switzerland, he latest tested positive.
The Canadian, who had suffered similar symptoms after the Russian GP but twice tested negative, had been advised by his personal doctor not to take a test.
That led to Brown aiming a dig at Stroll and Racing Point, claiming all teams should insist on testing should anyone fall unwell regardless of the symptoms.
“I don’t know if (the doctor) was Dr Mallya, Dr Seuss, maybe it was Dr Dre, but next time around maybe we should be testing when anyone has any sort of symptoms,” said Brown.
“This disease is extremely contagious and extremely dangerous. I think the FIA and Formula One have done a very good job putting on these grands prix. I think if you look at other sports they have had bigger issues.
“It requires a lot of trust, transparency and communication and responsibility from all the teams to make sure we have not only safety within our own teams but within the whole racing community.”
McLaren was the first team to have team members test positive for Covid-19 at the aborted Australian Grand Prix in March and Brown says they “won’t take any risks, won’t gamble” and will test any individual that shows any symptoms.
“If I look at the Racing Point incidents, I would probably test anyone who isn’t feeling well, daily,” added Brown. “In Australia, we had someone who didn’t feel very well. We took the very quick decision to isolate.
“When the test came back positive (we chose) to isolate the team and we knew that would shut us down for the race. I know the (Racing Point) doctor didn’t think a test was positive, maybe in hindsight that should be different.”
>Before you go...
It would have been "crazy" for Mercedes to quit Formula 1 - CEO Källenius
Bottas tops first practice for seventh consecutive race as F1 returns to Portugal
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Alonso reveals MISTAKE cost him in shock Red Bull battle - Top three verdict
- 16 minutes ago
F1 star accuses team-mate of ‘crossing the line’ in battle
- 1 hour ago
F1 team lodge FIA PROTEST over Chinese Grand Prix qualifying result
- 2 hours ago
Hamilton in 's*** happens' outburst after huge China failure
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Alonso hit with China PENALTY as Hamilton endures Shanghai nightmare
- 2 hours ago
F1 star PENALISED following controversial Chinese GP incident
- 3 hours ago
Related news
Young F1 star set to make McLaren debut in injury replacement
F1 star reveals how Verstappen and Hamilton rivalry influenced key decision
Norris reveals CRUCIAL save that kept him at McLaren
F1 star hints future Ferrari move after Hamilton influence
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