Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Bottas, Leclerc defend returning to Monaco between events

by Phillip Horton
5 years ago
A A
0
Bottas, Leclerc defend returning to Monaco between events

(L to R): Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari and race winner Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Mercedes AMG F1 celebrate on the podium. Austrian Grand Prix, Sunday 5th July 2020. Spielberg, Austria.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc have stressed that they did not endanger themselves or others by opting to return home in-between Formula 1 grands prix in Austria.

Formula 1 arranged for its opening two events to be held at Austria’s Red Bull Ring, with team personnel practicing social distancing where possible, and operating in separate bubbles.

For example, Honda personnel who work with Red Bull have not interacted with those operating at AlphaTauri.

All those in attendance at events have had tests for Covid-19 every five days and were free of the virus before travelling to Austria for the opening round last weekend.

RelatedPosts

McLaren has detailed how Oscar Piastri has evolved in 2025

McLaren details ‘holistic’ development driving Oscar Piastri F1 title bid

2 hours ago
Toto Wolff has backed Lewis Hamilton to find form at Ferrari

Toto Wolff warns against writing Lewis Hamilton off amid Ferrari struggles 

3 hours ago

Formula 1 personnel have stayed out in the Styria region and it is understood that 18 of the 20 drivers also remained in the area, aside from Bottas and Leclerc, who returned home to Monaco.

Article 3.14 of the FIA’s Covid-19 Code of Conduct, which was last month included as Appendix S of the International Sporting Code, states that “Any time that Profile 1 Attendees spend outside the Venue during a Covered Event or between Covered Events (eg at a hotel) must be spent with other members of the same Group, keeping interaction with persons outside that Group to a minimum.”

It goes on to state that “where the Covid-19 delegate considers that a stakeholder has deliberately or seriously or repeatedly breached the Covid-19 Code the Covid-19 delegate shall submit a report to the stewards.”

“I wanted to find out if it was safe to go back, and it is,” said world championship leader Bottas, who resides in Monaco.

“Obviously it doesn’t make any difference, if I stay in the same bubble, with the same people, if I’m here or back home in Monaco.

“So, I decided to go back home as, in the end, we are in Europe and traveling it’s pretty short distances, so there’s no actual stress from travelling.

“I just wanted to spend those three full days at home, and I thought it was very nice. I feel very much recharged for the weekend.

“I think it was a good decision for my side and I tend to only do things that work for me, when it comes to deciding what I want to do when I have days off.

“From a safety point of view there was no difference at all, I was still with the same people that I would have been dealing here.”

Images posted on social media this week showed Ferrari driver Leclerc at a gathering with friends in his native Monaco.

“I did come back home,” confirmed Leclerc.

“On the other hand I’ve been tested twice before coming back, so in two days tested twice, both negative obviously, and that’s it, but yes I went back home for two days and then did two tests to be sure of the result.”

Sebastian Vettel, sat alongside Leclerc in the press conference, commented: “I stayed in the bubble…”

The trips back home, particularly Leclerc’s, have raised some eyebrows within the paddock, with F1 bosses pushing to prove it can operate safely and therefore agree deals with other countries to race there as it looks to expand beyond 8 races.

This move by Leclerc, who didn’t remain in his bubble and was seen meeting people without a mask, threatens that and will likely result in some stern words from the FIA and F1.

Tags: AustrianGPCharles LeclercF1StyrianGPValtteri Bottas
Share207Tweet125Share

Related Posts

McLaren has detailed how Oscar Piastri has evolved in 2025
Formula 1

McLaren details ‘holistic’ development driving Oscar Piastri F1 title bid

2 hours ago
Toto Wolff has backed Lewis Hamilton to find form at Ferrari
Formula 1

Toto Wolff warns against writing Lewis Hamilton off amid Ferrari struggles 

3 hours ago
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team. 15.06.2025. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 10, Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal, Canada, Race Day
Formula 1

Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin decline ‘different’ to doomed second McLaren F1 stint

4 hours ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
11Austrian GP27-29 June
12British GP04-06 July
13Belgian GP25-27 July
14Hungarian GP01-03 August
15Dutch GP29-31 August

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri198
Lando Norris176
Max Verstappen155
George Russell136
Charles Leclerc105
Lewis Hamilton79
Andrea Kimi Antonelli63
Alexander Albon42
Isack Hadjar28
Esteban Ocon22

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

McLaren has detailed how Oscar Piastri has evolved in 2025
Formula 1

McLaren details ‘holistic’ development driving Oscar Piastri F1 title bid

June 22, 2025
Toto Wolff has backed Lewis Hamilton to find form at Ferrari
Formula 1

Toto Wolff warns against writing Lewis Hamilton off amid Ferrari struggles 

June 22, 2025
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team. 15.06.2025. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 10, Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal, Canada, Race Day
Formula 1

Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin decline ‘different’ to doomed second McLaren F1 stint

June 22, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd