Formula 1’s two current race directors – Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich – have both tested positive for Covid-19 as the teams and drivers touch down in Miami ahead of its first appearance on the calendar.
According to Sky Sports, the duo – who have been sharing race director duties since Michael Masi’s exit from the sport – both returned the positive test readings last week.
Therefore, there is hope that one of them may test negative before time runs out ahead of this Sunday’s race.
People travelling to the United States have to show a negative Covid-19 test result taken no more than one day before travel – so it remains to be seen what the outcome will be.
The FIA has yet to comment on what has been described as “unsubstantiated” reports and says it would “only disclose medical information” about its personnel “if it was relevant to the running of the event.”
Freitas and Wittich are the only two nominated race directors for the 2022 season, so officials may have to choose a careful replacement.
According to reports, the likely options are FIA Advisor Herbie Blash and Colin Haywood, who was due to be the deputy race director in Miami.
A final decision is yet to be made, and while neither Blash nor Haywood has ever stepped into the role before, there are reportedly a host of other options.
