Formula 1 will not go to countries that do not have a medical guarantee system

Formula 1, which greatly strengthened its security following the death of Brazilian Ayrton Senna and Austrian Roland Ratzenberger in Imola in 1994, will not visit countries that lack a medical system with sufficient guarantees to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. , has assured the representative of the pilots, the Austrian Alex Wurz.

“We will not go to countries where the health crisis is so severe that there is not enough capacity in their medical system,” said Wurz, who as president of the Drivers’ Association (GPDA) has participated in a telematic conference with F1 bosses, Chase Carey, and the FIA, Jean Todt, on how to minimize risks in the 2020 World Cup races.

“There was no negotiation, only debate to contribute ideas in order to ensure that we can return as soon as possible and, above all, in the safest way. Jean Todt and Chase Carey have made it very clear, “said the former driver on Sky Vodcast.

Formula 1, suspended by the pandemic, is slated to resume in early July in Austria, Wurz’s native country. «I know that we have full capacity. In Austria we were lucky, the cases were very few. As for medical treatment, medical space and emergency units around the Red Bull Ring, there is no problem, “he said.

The F1 caravan will be isolated from the population of the country that hosts the races and special care will be taken to avoid contagion among the workers themselves: «We have to ensure that we do not transmit the virus between the industry and the host country, and on the circuit We have to make sure we keep the distance between us to minimize the risk of transmission. ”

Wurz says that following the tragic weekend in which the Brazilian Ayrton Senna and the Austrian Roland Ratzenberger died in San Marino, motor racing became “an incredibly safe industry” and, as then, now, with the coronavirus, they will have to rethink everything, again.

“Everyone, the mechanics, the team leaders, the stewards, are used to following very strict safety protocols. And that has worked fantastically for the past three to four decades. Racing, without reducing performance, has become extremely safe. ” .