The McLaren staff who stayed behind in Melbourne to go into quarantine after the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix are finally on their way home, it has been reported. The employees should arrive back in Great Britain in the next 48 hours.
On the Thursday before the season-opening Grand Prix, McLaren communicated that an engineer had tested positive for the coronavirus. The team from Woking withdrew for the race almost immediately afterwards, and no less than 16 people were immediately quarantined.
12 days later, the staff is now allowed to travel back home. Team principal Andreas Seidl was one of the many employees who stayed behind in Melbourne for a few more days to support the crew during their period in isolation.
According to sources, the infected team member had flown back already. Seven of the other staff had already tested negative for COVID-19 after a week in quarantine. The virus seems - for now - nipped in the bud at McLaren.