Sainz: "I thought we were putting the whole thing behind us"

Formula 1 has very few measures in place around the coronavirus. For example, the drivers can hardly be seen wearing mouth masks anymore. Yet again this season two drivers have been infected with the virus; Sebastien Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo. Reason enough for Carlos Sainz to be worried again.

Alarm bells go off at Sainz

After two years of strict measures for the Formula 1 world, they are now mostly being relaxed. In addition to the slowly disappearing mouthguards, testing is no longer required continuously. That this does not mean that the virus no longer affects Formula 1 is far from the truth. Daniel Ricciardo had to miss part of the test days and Sebastian Vettel even had to miss the first Grand Prix. For Vettel, it also remains to be seen whether he can get back into his Aston Martin in Saudi Arabia.

Sainz told Speedweek.com that he was worried about the virus. "I thought we were putting the whole thing behind us. The positive testing of Ricciardo and Vettel do cause alarm bells to go off again." According to the Ferrari driver, it is a wake-up call that the corona crisis is still not over and could well have consequences.

Consequences for the championship

Incurring the corona virus and potentially missing Grands Prix could also have major consequences for the championship. Especially now that Ferrari is again competing for victories and perhaps the championship, Sainz does not want to miss a race either. Sainz therefore hopes that the world can quickly put the coronavirus behind him.

"It seems like it will never go away," laments Sainz. Fortunately, he can still put it into perspective. "It's exhausting, but what can you do about it? You go on with your life and try not to get it." Sainz finished second behind teammate Charles Leclerc at the Bahrain Grand Prix and will be looking for his first win in Formula One in Saudi Arabia.