Formula One drivers were warned that they won’t be permitted to race in the Australian Grand Prix without being vaccinated.
Due to Covid restrictions, the showpiece will now be the season-opener. However, it will take third place on the 2022 Calendar.
Officials will be keen to avoid a repeat of the controversial and incredibly public saga surrounding Novak Djokovic’s cancelled visa.
According to Mirror, F1 drivers have been told by Australian Grand Prix officials that they won’t be permitted to race if they don’t jab.
Andrew Westacott is the chief executive officer of race. He insists on clear rules and that all racers as well as staff need to be inoculated in order to participate.
F1 drivers must have their vaccines in order to race at the Australian Grand Prix.
Novak Djokovic was deported from Melbourne after his entry into the country was revoked
Westacott explained that the rules for entering the country are easy and Formula One’s rules are straightforward.
“To enter the event, you must be 100% vaccinated. There won’t be any exemption for anyone.
“Our arrangements are in place before any of the current events at the Australian Open.
The showpiece officials have made it clear that they will not allow anyone to be excluded
These rules have been understood by Formula One and the FIA. They’ll be written in the sports regulations. I am very confident (it) will be a rite for newcomers to the country.
‘There’s zero tolerance. No matter if you are Lewis Hamilton in MotoGP or Valentino Rossi, you can’t race the weekend if you have a positive test.
Hamilton has been confirmed to have received all necessary vaccinations against Covid. He also repeatedly encouraged fans to get jabbed.
There is still ongoing speculation that Hamilton could retire from racing and is set for a career in Hollywood, with the Mercedes driver continuing to remain quiet after his controversial defeat to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.
After losing the title in 2021, speculation surrounds Lewis Hamilton’s F1 future.
Hamilton witnessed what could have been an historic eighth title slip by his fingers at Yas Marina circuit, the last day of F1 racing season 2021.
Following a late safety car that caused a delay, Michael Masi, FIA’s race director decided to hold a last lap showdown between Hamilton and Verstappen. The lapped cars were cleared.
This controversial decision saw Verstappen win his first world title. Hamilton did not interview Hamilton after the race, so Hamilton has not been heard from.
Meanwhile, tennis World No 1 Djokovic was deported from Melbourne after his entry into the country was revoked.
Justice Anthony Besanko, Chief Justice James Allsop and Justice David O’Callaghan all unanimously ruled that Djokovic had no grounds to contest the deportation order of Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.
Grand Slam 20 champion, however, said that he was disappointed by the decision. However, he insisted that he respected the court’s decision. He would cooperate with authorities.