F1 sources indicated on Sunday that they are pushing for the British Grand Prix to occur in July, even if the UK mandates quarantine for visitors during the COVID-19 crisis. Reports from The Sun suggest the government might grant exemptions for sports, enabling football and F1 teams to travel in and out of the country freely. In exchange, teams and athletes would be required to adhere to a rigorous testing protocol and isolate immediately upon testing positive for the virus.
Formula One is working to put on a British Grand Prix in July even if the country imposes quarantine measures on visitors during the COVID-19 crisis, F1 sources said on Sunday. The Sun newspaper quoted a government source as saying there would be an exemption for sports, with Formula One and football teams free to travel from Britain and return without restriction once competition resumes. It said athletes and teams would be expected to undergo a rigorous testing regime and isolate themselves immediately if they tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
According to Reuters, F1 is still in talks with government officials. On Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the public in a televised speech that quarantine would soon be mandatory for those arriving by air. Additionally, an airline association noted that the government is looking at a 14-day isolation period for most foreigners to stop the virus from surging again.
The Champions League has been paused since March at the round of 16, meaning teams like Chelsea and Manchester City would need special permission to continue their campaigns. These rules are particularly tricky for Formula One, as the Silverstone event is set for July 19, immediately following two back-to-back races in Austria on July 5 and 12.
Since seven out of ten F1 teams are headquartered in the UK, they would be returning from a controlled environment in Austria, where they would have spent two weeks in isolation with regular testing. Ross Brawn, the managing director of Formula One, recently detailed the safety protocols planned for the start of the season.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Brawn explained that everyone will be tested and cleared before entering the paddock, followed by consistent testing every two days conducted by licensed authorities. He noted that movement will be strictly limited to create a 'small bubble' of isolation. Teams will be required to stick to their own groups, avoid mingling with rivals, and stay in separate hotels. For its part, Silverstone has emphasized that the event depends entirely on government authorization and must not put any undue pressure on local police or healthcare systems.
“We’ll have restrictions on how people move around. we have to create an environment that, within itself is effectively a small bubble of isolation. “And the teams will stay within their own groups. They won’t mingle with other teams, and they’ll stay at their own hotels.” Silverstone has made clear that its race has to get government approval and cannot be a burden on policing or the medical services.