F1 drivers say COVID-19 should not stop them racing

Formula One drivers who contract COVID-19 should be able to race if they feel well and can do so without endangering other people, Red Bull's Sergio Perez and others said on Friday. The Mexican, who was the first to miss a grand prix due to the virus when he had to sit out two rounds in 2020, spoke after two drivers tested positive ahead of Sunday's Bahrain season-opener. Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel is isolating while McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo will race after an absence last week.

Formula One has relaxed its previous strict COVID protocols at races this year but Perez said the sport was still too restrictive. "COVID has evolved so much you know that I think the best judge will be ourselves," he told reporters at the Sakhir circuit. "We should leave it up to the drivers to decide.

I think we all have raced once in our lives while feeling really bad, health-wise. We are the judges to say we can race the way we are at the moment or we can simply not. "If the driver feels comfortable to race like that, I wouldn’t think it’s a problem.

The world seems to have moved on from it." Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas agreed that it should be the driver making the call providing there was no risk of further spread. Others suggested drivers could carry out team briefings remotely but still race. "I think there’s ways of being very cautious and responsible whilst having COVID and still competing," said Vettel's team mate Lance Stroll, who missed a race in 2020.