The F1 World Championship will have a record season in 2022 with 23 Grands Prix scheduled. Despite a persistent pandemic, the F1 paddock will have to be vaccinated.
In order for the 2022 season to take place in the best conditions, F1 staff, drivers and all those involved in the paddock will have to be vaccinated to access the circuits.
F1 staff will need to be vaccinated
In recent days, tennis has been the scene of an incredible affair with the expulsion of world number one, Novak Djokovic for the Australian Open. Compulsory vaccination is now in effect for Formula 1.
According to Stefano Domenicali, chief executive of F1, this measure was adopted by the World Motor Sport Council of the FIA.
“One of the last things approved at the last World Council was, as a precaution, to vaccinate all F1 staff who have to be in the paddock,” Domenicali told Spanish sports daily Marca.
With a mandatory policy, F1 should be able to circumvent the restrictions that are in place in Australia and other countries to ensure the calendar can count on its 23 Grands Prix.
“Vaccines are our way out of this pandemic, and we need to keep everyone safe and move forward together. I got vaccinated and I ask everyone to do the same. Formula 1 will forward and we ask everyone to do their part.”
Last October, the driver of the Medical Car, South African Alan van der Merwe, who has been behind the wheel since 2009 in all Grands Prix, said he did not want to be vaccinated.
Van der Merwe said he was “fully aware” that his decision could rule him out for future Grands Prix. Even if he recognizes that vaccines are effective for the majority of people, he cannot help but have doubts about the real need for him to be vaccinated.
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