Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has revealed that he recently tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the sixth high-profile member of the Formula 1 paddock to confirm a positive test.
Sergio Perez was the first to be hit with the virus, which forced him to miss both Silverstone rounds last year. His Racing Point team-mate Lance Stroll missed the German round after also testing positive.
Meanwhile reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton was forced to miss the Sakhir GP, which saw George Russell step up to replace him at Mercedes in a race the Briton almost claimed victory before bad luck befell him.
Both Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc then tested positive in January whilst spending time in Dubai but have since recovered.
Wolff revealed he too tested positive for coronavirus whilst in his native Austria, forcing him to extend a short trip to Kitzbuhel where he and his wife Susie Wolff had to quarantine for 10 days.
“We had planned to be here for a few days,” he told Austria’s ORF. “And out of nowhere I got a positive corona test.
“Now we’ve just been here for 10 days. But everything’s fine. No symptoms, thank God. It could have gone badly, but we’re out of quarantine.”
Wolff is currently negotiating a new contract with his star driver Lewis Hamilton. The delay has caused the rumour mill to go into overdrive, but Wolff insists things are progressing and that “curveballs” are the reason for the delay.
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