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Lewis Hamilton faces numerous hurdles ahead of a potential Covid-19 comeback at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The seven-time champion missed the opportunity to compete in the highly entertaining Sakhir GP after contracting the virus following his victory in the first race of the Middle East triple race at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Hamilton’s self-isolation period will expire on Thursday, one day before free practice for the race at the Yas Marina circuit, but the Mercedes driver still needs to return multiple negative tests before re-entering the paddock.
Criteria for traveling between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi for F1 personnel are the most stringent for the season, and everyone involved must travel on a series of chartered flights to the UAE, with special permission granted to F1 to avoid the period. 14-day isolation from the country for Arrivals.
If Hamilton does not test negative before these flights, complications will arise in arranging new travel arrangements, and the Brit will demand an assignment from UAE officials to allow him to travel privately.
Just to get out of Bahrain, Hamilton has to test negative before traveling, which means his tests should be done and negative before his isolation period expires.
When asked if Hamilton could receive any special waivers to return with the possibility of the rules being changed, FIA race director Michael Masi explained that the protocols established by the motorsports governing body were secondary to the criteria. Of each country.
“It’s not so much a rule change from an FIA regulatory perspective,” he said.
“The main part, through all of this, has always been to comply with the laws and regulations of the respective government.
“Therefore, it is a very important decision for the Bahraini health authorities to determine whether Lewis is fit and compliant with their regulations, and furthermore, for the Abu Dhabi authorities to determine their criteria.”
“So effectively, two government entities must determine the entry criteria.
“If it meets the entry criteria of the two governments and also meets the test protocol from the perspective of the FIA, to test negative before entering the paddock, then there are no problems from our perspective.”
With the schedule approaching the end of such a disrupted season, Hamilton faces a race against time to prepare for this weekend’s race, even if they pass it in shape.
If he travels privately to the United Arab Emirates, Hamilton would have to isolate himself for a 24-hour period. With his projected time frame and existing 10-day lockdown period, this would rule him out of Friday’s practice sessions.
However, pointing to Nico Hulkenberg’s departure from the Nürburgring, Masi explained that it would still be possible for Hamilton to race over the weekend even without attending Friday’s practice.
“Actually, you don’t need a rule change,” Masi added. “Realistically, within the current regulatory framework, what was used at the Nürburgring, as long as a driver participates in a practice or qualifying session, he is allowed to race.
“So technically, here and now, a driver only has to meet one of those criteria. They couldn’t just show up and race. They would have to do one of the practice sessions, free practice or qualifying practice, beforehand.”
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