McLaren has withdrawn from the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, following the positive test of a team member for the coronavirus.

The team member was tested and self-isolated as soon as they started to show symptoms and will now be treated by local healthcare authorities.

The team has prepared for this eventuality and has ongoing support in place for its employee who will now enter a period of quarantine. The team is cooperating with the relevant local authorities to assist their investigations and analysis.

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and Andreas Seidl, Team Principal of McLaren F1, informed Formula 1 and the FIA of the decision this evening. The decision has been taken based on a duty of care not only to McLaren F1 employees and partners, but also to the team's competitors, Formula 1 fans and wider F1 stakeholders.

there are currently four members of the Haas team waiting on their test results.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by BillH, 12/03/2020 16:27

"Having done some research on how this coronavirus spreads, I suspect McLaren may be out of racing for some time this season, depending on how the team member contracted the virus and who they were in contact with.

I expect other teams to pull the pin too as they assess the risk to their people.
I hate to admit this but I think it is time that F1 pulled the pin on racing for a while.
As Hamilton says, "cash is king", but a short term loss is better than having a decimated F1 community.

Where this all leave Bahrain is anyone's guess.

While there is no fans in the stands, this infected person would not have been in the stands."

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2. Posted by BillH, 12/03/2020 16:01

"Very sad for the team member and in fact the whole team.
Better to be safe than sorry.

As an F1 fan, I'm gutted as McLaren is the team I follow most.

However, precautions must be taken so that there is a healthy team to follow.

Will I tune in this weekend to watch having just ponied up for the coverage?

Maybe out of curiosity this being the first race in too many to count that McLaren haven't been there.

Mind you, in the second round of Honda years..."

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3. Posted by yakker, 12/03/2020 14:18

"Just a small reminder
Brawn: No ten teams, no race"

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4. Posted by GrahamG, 12/03/2020 13:18

"Hi w much longer can F1 bury its head in the sand and pretend it is unaffected. As an event which involves more global travel by more people of different nationalities than virtually anything else a more responsible attitude would be expected, but I guess Lewis is right, for Carey and co cash is king"

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5. Posted by Wokingchap, 12/03/2020 11:48

"Oh thats rather sad news. Lets hope he/she gets over it ok and no one else has caught it.
Doesn't look too promising though. Good luck McLaren."

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McLaren withdraws from Australian GP

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