Vettel Misses Testing At Spain’s Circuit de Catalunya Due To Flu Like Symptoms And Is Tested For Coronavirus

As testing fully gets underway in Spain at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya former world champion Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel had to sit it out due to sickness striking him just before the testing regulated start times with flu like symptoms leading him to a coronavirus testing at the F1 medical centre according to track side sources.

Vettel after taking ceremony for a few opening press photo’s was then struck with flu like symptoms and dashed to the medical centre where he was informed he required the medical test and that he could not take his car out for the days testing.

Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc took over the role for the days Ferrari testing as concerned Vettel was ushered from the paddock with no further comment from the Ferrari team.

Testing itself was a grilling day for the Williams team who missed last years first 2 days of testing completely had had a shambles of a season thereafter winning only one point all season and finishing last in the constructors championship.

Team Principal Claire Williams said: “”We wanted to make a real point after last year’s dramas that we were here and ready to go. We just wanted to get today under our belt.”

Whilst her driver George Russell told the media” Everybody was a bit lost at this time last year,” added Russell. “We’re definitely excited for the new season. It was a character-building year last year, but I’m confident we can go racing this year and have a bit more fun.”

Drivers and teams put their cars to the limit during testing to discover their limits of their new machines and yesterday was no exception as many spins and “offs” occurred  notably Max Verstappen who loves to “rag” his car to the maximum and took two big spins as he did during the first testing session.