Norris is the latest F1 driver to test positive for Covid-19
Florent Gooden / DPPI
McLaren has confirmed that Lando Norris has tested positive for Covid-19 in Dubai as he continues his preparations for the 2021 Formula 1 season.
According to the team, Norris was in the UAE on holiday ahead of a planned training camp to get him ready for the new season.
He said he had experienced a loss of sense of taste and smell but no other symptoms. Having tested positive on Monday, the 21-year-old will now be going into a self-isolation period of 14 days
Norris is the fourth F1 driver to test positive for coronavirus after Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Lewis Hamilton all tested positive at various stages during last season. All three missed races during the tight 2020 season.
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) January 5, 2021
Hamilton said that he was feeling well under 100 per cent after he had tested negative prior to the season finale in Abu Dhabi and said that the virus had impacted his performance throughout the final weekend.
Norris will have plenty of time to recover ahead of the 2021 season getting underway and may have longer still with the scheduled season-opening Australian Grand Prix set to be postponed to later in the year.
It would mean that the Bahrain Grand Prix will host the curtain-raising race that is currently scheduled for March 28.
Pre-season testing is also likely to be affected and may be moved to the Sakhir circuit ahead of the first grand prix.
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