The Formula 1 paddock will essentially be returning to normal in 2023, with the FIA having confirmed that they’ve dropped the requirements for all members of Formula 1 to be vaccinated against the Coronavirus.
The sport has moved on incredibly quickly from the pandemic, with races having been held behind-closed-doors just two years ago.
Even for the majority of the 2021 season, attendance capacities were severely reduced for both fans and the media, something that continued somewhat in 2022 at certain places.
The F1 paddock in 2023, though, will likely feel pre-COVID-19 once again, with it having been confirmed at Wednesday’s meeting of the World Motor Sport Council that the requirement to be vaccinated wasn’t necessary any longer.
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This means medical car driver Alan van de Merwe and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg, can return to the paddock, with the latter having been denied entry despite having a lifelong paddock pass.
When the ban was introduced for the 2022 season, Van de Merwe questioned it immediately, with it now set to be intriguing to see if he returns to the paddock.
“Should some people’s health be sacrificed for the greater good of a vaccine rollout?” Van de Merwe said at the time.
Rosberg refused to have the vaccine following advice from his doctor – advice he was given interestingly after having the disease.
“I recovered well from the corona disease and therefore have strong antibodies,” said Rosberg.
“Under these circumstances, my doctor advised me that vaccination would make absolutely no sense.”
As long as the F1 member in question doesn’t actively have the disease, then they won’t need to be vaccinated to enter; however, the FIA did mention during the meeting in Bologna that stakeholders will be told where they can get tested locally.
“The FIA will no longer organise on-site testing facilities but will inform stakeholders about test facilities available locally to venues,” the FIA stated.
With the FIA effectively deciding that it’s time to live with the Coronavirus, the paddock will perhaps feel busier than ever before, given that there are likely several people who have been unable to attend following the sport’s previously tough approach to the disease.
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Despite the sport having been strict in regard to the pandemic, several drivers still managed to test positive for the infection, including, Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton, of course, tested positive during 2020 and was forced to miss the Sakhir Grand Prix, where he was famously replaced by George Russell.
His current team-mate came staggeringly close to victory on that day, had it not been for a catastrophic pit-stop error by Mercedes, after they fitted Russell with the wrong tyres.