Mahindra Racing’s executive director and team principal, Dilbagh Gill, took COVID-19 tests and is expected to miss the six races of the 2019 to 2020 Formula E season final.
All drivers and equipment provided at the Tempelhof Airport site had to pass a check and carry out a mandatory 36-hour quarantine in their respective hotel rooms.
Although Gill, who is in the United States, says he has no symptoms of coronavirus, he tested positive on Monday and now faces an era of isolation of 10 to 14 days.
He said at a press conference with some media, adding to Autosport: “The first thing I like is that I test positive for COVID-19 on the first [Monday].
“Lately I’m remote and waiting for my test
“I don’t have any symptoms and I feel pretty good, so I think it’s something on my side.
“I’m a little disappointed not to be there to help the team right now, but it’s better for everyone’s fitness to be out.”
Mahindra Racing, who after the blockade moved to new facilities and updated the software of his M6Electro car, had already planned a restructuring of the team if one of the main members of his staff became ill.
Gill added: “We expected there to be adjustments to the equipment due to COVID-19.They all had backup.
“Mahindra has a pretty strong control team, so Toni Cuquerella [the leading race engineer] will step in to assume the team’s main service and David Clarke [team leader] will necessarily share the responsibilities.
“On a race day, they are largely the ones in charge of driving the cars, so among them we are in good hands.
“I’m on a radio call.”
Tempelhof Airport has been limited to 1,000 people, compared to an estimated 5,000 at a normal FE event, due to German law that will remain in force until the end of August.
Each team has noticed that its staff increased from 40 to 21 passes: 19 for team members and two for drivers.
This originally had a limit of 20, but was given additional space for team leaders to attend.
When asked through Autosport if Gill hoped to be able to return to the track, he added, “I asked to do a test for the moment, which is scheduled for later today or tomorrow, and on that basis we will know [in the future].”
“From now on, the initial commands are 10 to 14 days [in isolation], so yes, I think the last thing is going to be in this hotel room for me.”
Formula E issued a message that read: “On Monday, August 3, another 1421 people who tested gained negative effects and two gained positive effects.
“Both individuals have entered their own quarantine in accordance with the commands of the applicable public aptitude government and will continue with the prescribed procedure through those governments.
“In some cases, the detailed protocol of the FIA Formula E Championship has been strictly followed.”
No one will be allowed to enter the site without a negative test, and all participants must practice social estrangement, wear a mask, and remain quarantined alone until it is their turn to take the test.
Additional tests will be conducted every five to seven days.