Ferrari says Formula 1 teams need to be assured of the risks they may face at the Australian Grand Prix with regard to the coronavirus before staff start to travel to Melbourne.
Amid growing fears that some staff may not be allowed to travel or may be quarantined upon arrival, Ferrari team director Mattia Binotto said that F1 and FIA should ensuring there were no surprises for the teams.
Staff and pilots of the Italian team struggled to get to the Bahrain F2 test this weekend due to concerns over the virus.
Binotto said he did not want to leave anything to chance and added that it would be too late to make a decision once the staff were on their way.
Asked about the possibility of a repeat of the problems encountered by F2 in Bahrain, Binotto said: “[Getting] to the tests was difficult.
“Some of our engineers who stayed there stayed at home. Instead of taking the risk of being there and staying there for a few days or days, they stayed at home.
“I think what we will need is just to have insurance before we go. I don’t think we can find out when [teams arrive] what may be or what the situation will be.
“So if there are medical screenings, we need to know about them.
“You have to know exactly what it is. We have to understand what the consequences are if something goes wrong.
“It is obvious that we must protect our employees. We have a collective and individual responsibility towards them.
“And it is important, really, to make sure that before leaving, the picture, whatever the scenario, is known and clear.”
Friday morning, the team leaders met with F1 CEO Chase Carey for an update on the state of the first three races.
One problem for F1 could be that if one or two teams can’t race in Australia because the staff can’t make it, but everyone else is fine, if the race is to continue.
But Binotto said the implication of such a problem for Italian staff would extend far beyond the two teams based in the country, Ferrari and AlphaTauri.
“I say it’s not just two [teams] because we are providing assistance to Haas and the Alfa Sauber team, “he said.
“So it will be at least four teams, plus the Pirelli situation that we need to understand.
“So what will be the situation if finally four teams cannot run and if the race will take place or not?
“It is not my decision.”
