McLaren has contingency plans in place after Daniel Ricciardo tested positive for Covid-19 one week before the first race of the new season.
However the team is confident their driver will be fit to drive in next week’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Ricciardo has been absent from testing since it started two days ago, and McLaren confirmed yesterday evening he had tested positive for Covid.
Team principal Andreas Seidl told media including RaceFans today that Ricciardo is already showing signs of recovery. “I’m confident he will be fit again next weekend,” he said. “He’s feeling better already but as you know it simply takes a few days until you are fully back in good shape.”
McLaren has several back-up options available in case Ricciardo is unavailable, Seidl says, including Mercedes reserve drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries.
“We have an agreement with Mercedes to share reserve drivers,” said Seidl. “We have also Paul di Resta on standby in case…