Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has revealed that he was administered a COVID-19 vaccine earlier this month.
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He didn’t specify in which country he was vaccinated, only saying he received his first coronavirus jab in Europe.
“Not here in Bahrain, in Europe. In any case, it does help,” Verstappen said on Sunday on the final day of pre-season testing.
Explaining his decision to accept the vaccine, the Dutch ace said: “Because we travel a lot, of course, it is also better for the people we can come into contact with at the places we go.”
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Earlier, Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez revealed that he had received a coronavirus vaccine in Bahrain.
“Yes, we were offered it and I decided to take up that offer. I have no idea when I could have gotten it home in Mexico,” Perez said.
“So it was very nice of Bahrain to offer it to us and so I took the [vaccine] myself. ”
Ahead of pre-season testing, the Bahraini government announced it would be offering all F1 personnel the opportunity to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
This was only possible because testing and the season-opener will both take place in the Arab Kingdom, so it is possible for drivers and other F1 personnel to receive both coronavirus jabs in Bahrain.
“Due to the timescale of this year’s Formula 1 event, including testing, the vast majority of participants will be present in Bahrain for a three-week period ahead of the race.
“This, in turn, allows a unique opportunity to provide additional protection for those who wish to take up the opportunity in the form of vaccination,” the Bahraini government said in a statement.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is another driver who decided to take up the Bahraini government’s offer to get vaccinated, but most F1 drivers and team members decided not to get vaccinated in the Arab Kingdom.
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