F1 declines Bahrain offer of Covid vaccination

Formula 1

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F1 declines Bahrain offer of Covid vaccination

Formula 1 personnel will be in Bahrain for at least three weeks

Sam Hall

Monday 1 March 2021 11:00

Formula 1 has declined an offer from the Bahrain International Circuit to vaccinate personnel attending pre-season testing from Covid-19.

Bahrain currently has five different vaccines in circulation and offered F1 personnel access to the Pfizer vaccine, an offer that has been declined by the sport.

A spokesperson for the sport said: “Formula 1, as a UK based organisation, has no plans to be vaccinated as a travelling group ahead of the already established rollout of vaccines through the health system in the UK.”

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Eight of the 10 teams currently on the grid are at least partially based in the United Kingdom and FIA president Stefano Domenicali said recently: "We don’t want to jump the line of vaccination.

"For sure vaccination is very, very important and I would say that I’m looking forward to being vaccinated as, I would say, everyone, should be in this moment."

The possibility for personnel to receive the vaccination in Bahrain arose after the Australian Grand Prix was postponed to November - a decision that resulted in pre-season testing being moved to the Gulf state that would now also host the season-opening race.

Pre-season testing will occur between March 12-14 with the race itself taking place on March 28 - a timeframe that allows for two doses to be administered 21 days apart.

A letter from the Bahrain International Circuit said: "Due to the timescale of this year's F1 event, including testing, the vast majority of participants will be present in Bahrain for a three-week period ahead of the race.

"This, in turn, allows a unique opportunity to provide additional protection for those who wish to take up the opportunity in the form of vaccination."