Racing Point CEO Otmar Szafnauer says he is “99% sure” Sergio Perez will be able to drive for the team in next week’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Perez is missing his second race in a row after testing positive for Covid-19 on multiple occasions. He has had further positive tests which Szafnauer says indicate his body is successfully fighting off the virus.The rate of improvement in Perez’s condition gives Szafnauer confidence that tomorrow’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix will be the last race his driver has to miss.
“Checo’s quarantine is over,” said Szafnauer. “He tested yesterday and it seems like the amount of virus in his system is coming down significantly from test to test.
“He was tested again today, we should have those results tomorrow. And I anticipate either by the time we get the results tomorrow or if we get a result early next week, he will be in the negative range.
“So I think by the time we get to Barcelona he’ll be back in the car. I’m trying to guess the future so that that doesn’t happen then don’t crucify me because I can’t predict the future. But just looking at the rate of the virus leaving a system if it’s linear it should be okay by the time we get to Barcelona.”
Szafnauer confirmed Nico Hulkenberg will be recalled for a third time if Perez is unable to race in Spain.
“If he wasn’t in the car, it would be Nico. But I am now, like I said before I was 99% sure that Nico would be in the car for both Silverstones and now I’m 99% sure that Checo will be in the car for Spain.”
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David lee
8th August 2020, 18:59
I’m glad they told Covid of their plans. On a serious note I doubt Spain will even let him in the country with a positive test in the last 2 weeks let along one less than a week ago
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
8th August 2020, 19:12
If he tests negative before entering why not?
doug
9th August 2020, 7:15
Last month Racing point was 100% sure Perez had a contract .Now they are 99% sure Perez will race in Spain:I surely do feel sorry for Perez;it does not look good for him at all.
KaIIe (@kaiie)
8th August 2020, 19:04
Perez back for the Spanish GP of 2021?
Adrian Hancox (@ahxshades)
8th August 2020, 19:21
So – Checo and Hulk for Spain then :)
Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
8th August 2020, 21:00
Daddy tell the others they can’t play with my toys!!
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
8th August 2020, 19:34
Translated: “The support for Nico is nice and stuff, but it won’t pay us the bills.” Despite getting a great result for the team, Hulkenberg seems to be rather unwillingly tolerated.
Macrob
8th August 2020, 20:06
Careful mate, Nico hasnt achieved anything yet…dont get too excited.
Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
8th August 2020, 21:02
@pironitheprovocateur I think Checo Perez’ sponsors pay them on a race by race basis or something. Every race he misses is less money to ‘pay the bills’. Otherwise Nico’s P3 would have been just as good for them as Checo’s (or Stroll’s but, you know)
BasCB (@bascb)
9th August 2020, 7:12
Could just be about them showing the sponsors they are certainly not trying to keep Checo OUT of the car on purpose @jeffreyj @pironitheprovocateur. Especially at a precarious time when apparently the negotiations about next years are ongoing (between Perez’ contract clauses, finding sponsor money to try and replace BWT to keep Perez etc), it makes sense that they want to say that to Perez’ backers, yes.
Robbie (@robbie)
8th August 2020, 19:53
Sure, sure, and you were 100% sure you had complied with your copy car, lol. Just teasing, Otmar.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
8th August 2020, 20:05
Take nothing for granted with this virus, It’s not a linear function though. There were cases with top athletes that stayed positive for weeks despite they didn’t show anymore signs and the amount of virus was decreased in their systems. All the best for Checo, hope for a speedy recovery though.
Nevertheless, the Hulk is sensational. Hope he’ll find a permanent seat next year. C’mon Steiner can you please change for the sake of change, tired from that uninspiring drivers lineup.
Postreader
8th August 2020, 20:49
True “long-haulers” are very rare. Since the test can pick up inactive RNA fragments, it’s more likely than not that you’ll test positive after clearing the infection and then later again as respitatory epithelial cells who survived the infection are shed at the end of their lifespan.
Macrob
8th August 2020, 20:07
I hope Checo is back next week, it will be his last season with the team, hope he gets all the racing he can this year.
Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
8th August 2020, 21:04
I’m sure Checo and Hulk will get a drive next year. I mean Williams, Haas and Alfa (if Kimi goes) could all use the experience and quality they bring.
erikje
8th August 2020, 22:54
thats an interesting stance..
I expected it to be 10 days after the last positive test.
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
8th August 2020, 23:29
99% sure, they were sure about this week aswell.
It can be a month before the virus is untracable. Especially if they use some fancy tests.
erikje
9th August 2020, 10:55
Szafnauer was sure the Renault claim would not stick ;)
Dale
9th August 2020, 9:12
Racing Point and their percentage predictions …
Considering they were 100% sure they would win the protest, we should start speculating on where we think Hulk will qualify in Spain …
RocketTankski
9th August 2020, 12:41
Any tests by Stroll Medical are always going to be 100% accurate ;-)