Marshals for the British Grand Prix, scheduled to take place this week, are unhappy with F1 over selective testing protocols. Apparently, F1 will not conduct Coronavirus tests on all marshals, only for those working within the paddock.
The selective screening policy has caused outrage among some marshals, who’ve lashed out at F1 and believe they’ve been “lied to”.
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According to reports from The Guardian, the circuit consists of zones categorized as ‘profiles’. Furthermore, the paddock area, which involves teams and drivers, falls under ‘profile one’ which includes extensive testing for COVID-19, including marshals.
As a result, zones outside the paddock, ‘profile two’, do not follow the same protocols.
A really big letdown: F1 British GP Marshals
Marshals slammed F1’s testing policy, citing the enormous time, effort, and health risks involved in conducting a race.
“I feel lied to, that is the honest truth,” a marshal said, as quoted by the Guardian.
“Thirty or 40% of marshals feel something is not right and are not very happy. We feel like second-class citizens. Because we are not in direct contact with the teams, we really don’t matter.
“When We Race as One was presented we were very much supporting it, it felt great. This feels like a really big letdown.
“This is a slap in the face given the time, money, and effort we put in to marshaling all year, every year. It makes us feel unwanted or just a necessary evil.
“The picture that has been put out there is that they are doing all these things to make it safe, and it is obvious now that is not the case.
“Is it cost-cutting? Well, if you are doing 4,500 tests on-site why can’t you add a few hundred people to it? It makes us feel not needed and an afterthought.”
In the most recent round of COVID-19 tests conducted by F1, none turned up positive. So far, only two positive cases have been confirmed after the 3 Grands Prix.
F1 will race this weekend in Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. Moreover, the race is the start of yet another F1 triple header, set to wind up in Spain. Much like in Austria, Formula 1 will race in Silverstone again, albeit under a different name.
The British Grand Prix takes place on August 2.
