No special dispensation for Hamilton to take part in season finale - FIA
No special dispensation for Hamilton to take part in season finale - FIA
Lewis Hamilton faces numerous hurdles ahead of a potential comeback from Covid-19 at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The seven-time champion missed out on competing in the wildly entertaining Sakhir GP after contracting the virus following his win in the first race of the Middle Eastern triple-header at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The self-isolation period for Hamilton is set to expire on Thursday, a day ahead of free practice for the race at the Yas Marina circuit, but with the Mercedes driver still needing to return multiple negative tests ahead of re-entry to the paddock.
Criteria for travel between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi for F1 personnel is the strictest of the season, with all involved needing to travel on a series of chartered flights into the UAE, with special permission given to F1 to bypass the country's 14-day isolation period for arrivals.
If Hamilton does not test negative before these flights, then complications will arise whilst organising new travel arrangements, with the Briton requiring an allowance from UAE officials to allow him to travel privately.
Just to leave Bahrain, Hamilton has to test negative prior to travelling, meaning his tests would have to be conducted and returned negative ahead of the expiration of his isolation period.
When asked if Hamilton could be given any special dispensation to return with the potential of rules being changed, FIA race director Michael Masi explained the protocols put in place by motorsport's governing body were secondary to each country's own criteria.
"It is not so much a rule change from an FIA regulatory perspective," he said.
"The main part, through all of this, has always been complying with the respective government's laws and regulations.
"So it is very much a decision for the Bahraini health authorities to determine if Lewis is fit and complies with their regulations, then further, for the Abu Dhabi authorities to determine their criteria.
"So it is effectively, two government entities that need to determine the entry criteria.
"If he meets the entry criteria of the two governments and further complies with the testing protocol from an FIA perspective, to test negative prior to entering the paddock, then there are no problems from our perspective."
With the closeness of the schedule at the end of such a disrupted season, Hamilton faces a race against time to prepare for this weekend's race, even if he is passed fit.
If he does travel privately to the UAE, Hamilton would need to self-isolate for a 24-hour period. With his projected timeframe and existing 10-day isolation period, this would rule him out of Friday's practice sessions.
Pointing to Nico Hulkenberg's stand-in drive at the Nürburgring, however, Masi explained it would still be possible for Hamilton to compete during the weekend even without attending Friday practice.
"There is actually no rule change necessary," added Masi. "So realistically, within the current framework of regulations - what was used at Nürburgring - as long as a driver participates in a practice session or qualifying, they are permitted to race.
"So technically, here and now, a driver only has to meet one of those criteria. They couldn't just turn up and race. They would have to do one of the practice sessions - free practice or qualifying practice - beforehand."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
EXCLUSIVE: Meeting F1's Max Verstappen - Red Bull star’s ‘cool’ canteen encounter
- 49 minutes ago
Alonso RIDICULES major FIA decision
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: F1 set for TAKEOVER worth 'billions' as Ricciardo 'ultimatum' rumours addressed by Marko
- 2 hours ago
Top manufacturer takes HUGE step towards F1 return
- Today 14:00
McLaren star sets staggering new F1 RECORD
- Today 12:57
Hamilton relationship 'ENDS' as F1 legend looks for celebrity date
- Today 11:57
F1 Race Calendar
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
- GP JAPAN 5 - 7 Apr
- GP CHINA 19 - 21 Apr
- GP USA 3 - 6 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
Related news
Hamilton relationship 'ENDS' as F1 legend looks for celebrity date
Wolff WARNS Hamilton about Ferrari competitiveness
F1 pundit SLAMS Mercedes as Hamilton woes continue
Hamilton labelled 'best that's ever walked the earth' after INCREDIBLE display
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