In a blink of an eye, we are seven days into February. Time is going quick but that also means the season opener in Bahrain is just around the corner. But what have been the main stories from the last week in Formula One you ask? I am glad you asked as we go into three main points of interest starting with Gasly testing positive for COVID-19...
Gasly tests positive for COVID-19
Frenchman Pierre Gasly has tested positive for Coronavirus. He is now self-isolating in Dubai where he was in training before the new season starts on the 26th March in Bahrain. The AlphaTauri driver becomes the sixth of the 20 drivers to contract it.
Ferrari's Leclerc and McLarens Norris tested positive earlier this year. Interesting, both were in Dubai when they found they had Coronavirus.
Stroll, Perez, and Hamilton all had COVID-19 last year during the season. Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, revealed that he too had the virus when he was in Austria but has finished his period of quarantine.
New Formula 1 chief urges drivers to lead by example
Stefano Domenicali, the new Formula 1 boss, gave his first news conference since he took up his new role last month. He covered a wide range of subjects including his confidence that F1 can run a full calendar this season despite the pandemic, prospects for new races, a revision to plans for sprint races on Saturday afternoon, and his hopes for Hamilton's contract talks with Mercedes to come to a conclusion. The interview can be found on the BBC Sport website.
In the discussion, Domenicali said that he urged the drivers to "lead by example" as role models for the sport. He has also written to every driver to reiterate the importance of being positive ambassadors for the sport. "They have a big responsibility because they are the face of our sport," said Domenicali, the 55-year-old said. "We have a huge potential to reach new fans who will engage with their faces and behavior and how they act as a man."
Ex-F1 driver to race in Indycar
And last but by no means least, Roman Grosjean has revealed that he is to race in the 2021 IndyCar season with Dale Coyne Racing. The Frenchman had spoken of his admiration of entering the US-based series after he was dropped from the Haas Formula One team along with Kevin Magnussen. A horrific crash at the 2020 Sakir Grand Prix ended his career in the pinnacle of motorsport.
However, he will return behind the wheel which will see him in all 13 road and street races. He will not compete in the oval rounds such as the Indianapolis 500.
Thank you for reading and I will see you next week for lap five of the F1 weekly round up here on Matchday FM.
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