COVID-19 stance could rule F1 medical car driver out of races

Reuters | London   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Formula One medical car driver Alan van der Merwe risks missing more races, after his absence from Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix, due to his decision not to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Van der Merwe, 41, and F1 doctor Ian Roberts tested positive independently for the coronavirus ahead of the race and did not travel to Istanbul, with the FIA’s Formula E crew standing in.

Both had been in the medical car at the previous Russian Grand Prix in Sochi. The South African said on Twitter it was the second time he had contracted COVID-19 and he had not been vaccinated for personal reasons.

“From what we understand, there are a couple of countries that you probably won’t be al[1]lowed to enter ... unless you’re vaccinated,” Formula One’s race director Michael Masi told re[1]porters on Sunday.

“You need to comply with those requirements to enter the country and from that perspective the FIA obviously has to respect the country’s requirements to get in, as will all the teams and everyone else.”

Van der Merwe explained his position before the weekend, indicating he had received abuse on social media for his stance and would block those making personal attacks or wishing him fired. “I am fully aware that I will potentially be less employable or that my freedom of movement will be restricted based on my choices,” he said on Twitter.