Formula 1 has relaxed its protocol for dealing with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus ahead of the 2022 championship. From now on, a negative PCR test is no longer mandatory for entering the paddock. Although this is still recommended, just like other measures, almost all previous regulations will be dropped in the new year.
Jost Capito welcomes the fact that the Formula 1 teams are to be given certain freedoms
This was announced by the FIA in an amended version of Annex S of its International Sporting Code, which was published on 18 February. However, as already announced at the end of 2021, the new rules for paddock visitors are linked to compulsory vaccination – with no exceptions.
Drivers, team bosses, journalists or celebrity guests must also be able to prove that they are “fully immunised” according to the respective legal regulations of their home country. In Germany, this usually means two vaccinations with the officially approved vaccines.
Only those who can prove that they are not allowed to be vaccinated for medical reasons can apply for an exemption. In order to enter the paddock with such a permit, however, one must undergo the PCR tests that were still mandatory in 2020 and 2021 – a maximum of 96 hours before and another maximum of 24 hours after entering the paddock.
All members of the Formula 1 world (and thus also the teams) are largely free to decide how they want to handle the issue of coronavirus from now on. However, with one decisive restriction: “Of course we have to follow the rules of the respective local government,” explains Williams team boss Jost Capito.
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The FIA and Formula One (FOM) have been “really careful” in the past two years of the pandemic and have done a “fantastic job”, says Jost Capito. And he emphasises: “They discuss with the teams before they make a decision. Cooperation and communication between the teams, the FOM and the FIA work very well.”
“Get vaccinated!”
The Williams team boss has always been on the cautious side when it comes to coronavirus . At the end of 2021, Capito himself contracted COVID-19, albeit with comparatively mild symptoms. Even then, he was one of the first in Formula 1 to publicly call for vaccination. Only then did an image clip of Formula 1 follow with an appeal to fans to get vaccinated.
Before the start of the 2022 season, there are reportedly teams that also want to drop the mask requirement. There now seems to be a broad consensus on this, at least in the open. But Capito emphasises: “If we want to wear masks, we can do that. We do so in the factory, for example. Our internal rules in the factory are currently stricter than the rules of the English government. I think it’s very important because we have to make sure that there are no production issues. I think it’s absolutely right that the teams are given a bit of freedom on how they want to deal with the situation. But the local rules have to be respected. That’s the right way to go,” Jost Capito concluded.
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