Two people ‘isolated and removed from operations’ after testing positive for Covid-19

Formula 1 and the FIA have confirmed two people have tested positive for Covid-19 over the last week, but say the individuals have been "removed from operations and isolated", and close contacts of those people have been traced and also isolated.

When F1 resumed racing earlier this month at the Red Bull Ring, strict safety measures were put in place to prevent the spread of the virus, including social distancing and masks being worn at all times at the track.

Any personnel attending a race are tested before travelling (using private testing services) and must produce a negative result before they can enter the track. They are then tested every five days, using private medical teams, during events, along with extra screening – including on arrival to the circuit.

Since the 2020 season got underway, almost 15,000 tests have been carried out. On Friday, ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, Formula 1 and the FIA said two people had tested positive.

A statement read: "The FIA and Formula 1 can today confirm that between Friday 10th July and Thursday 16th July, 4,997 tests for COVID-19 have been performed on drivers, teams and personnel. Of these, two people have tested positive.

"The individuals were not present in Austria, with the affected people removed from operations and isolated. Tracing of close contacts completed and isolated.

"The FIA and Formula 1 are providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency. No specific details as to teams or individuals will be provided by the FIA or Formula 1 and results will be made public every 7 days."

It is understood that the people in question did not work for any of the teams and were not in front line roles, and hence there is no impact to racing.

Formula 1 motorsport boss Ross Brawn had previously said that Formula 1 must expect positive results, and that the key was being able to deal with the situation correctly.

"There will be positive tests, I’m sure of it," he said after last week's Styrian Grand Prix. "When we do get those positive tests, we have to make sure we deal with them in the correct and proper fashion to minimise the impact they have on F1."

READ MORE: 5 steps F1 is taking to ensure racing is as safe as possible when the 2020 season starts