14 augustus 2020 – Sergio Perez may have become infected with the corona virus through a private chef, whom he hired when he returned to Europe after his trip to Mexico. That said Racing Point team boss Otmar Szafnauer.
Perez was the first driver to be diagnosed with contamination prior to the British Grand Prix. As a result, he missed both weekends at Silverstone. Prior to the British GP, the Mexican had traveled to his home country to visit his mother, who had been hospitalized. After the infection, there were questions about whether Perez had adhered to F1’s strict corona protocols in Mexico and whether he had contracted the lung virus there as well. Perez decidedly dismissed that first suggestion during the press conference on Thursday.
Szafnauer added during the second free practice Sky Sports answer that second question. He denies that Perez contracted the virus in Mexico. “We think he got it from one of the private chefs he hired. Frankly, that could have happened to anyone. He took every precaution in private. He stayed with his parents, he didn’t go out for dinner. When he back to Europe, he arranged for a private chef so he wouldn’t go to restaurants. We think he got it through a cook. “
After missing two races, Perez returns to Racing Point this weekend in Spain. He finished the day in eighth position, 1.4 seconds behind fastest man Lewis Hamilton. Judging from what he saw in the first practice session, Szafnauer doesn’t think Perez will need long to get back up to speed. “It’s great to see him get over the virus. When he tested positive, he was full of the virus, and he got it out of his system pretty quickly. I think this is because he is very fit. that he also quickly gets up to speed in the car. After VT1 it seemed as if that was happening. “
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