Mar 11th, 2020

Mar 11th, 2020

Three Formula One team members have been placed into isolation ahead of the Melbourne Grand Prix after showing symptoms of coronavirus.

One member from McLaren and two from team Haas were evaluated at Albert Circuit's isolation unit after presenting with fever.

The trio were tested for coronavirus and placed under self isolation at their hotels after showing symptoms, their teams confirmed.

"The Australian Grand Prix Corporation has been informed of three Formula 1 team personnel presenting for precautionary testing and who are now all undergoing precautionary self-isolation," Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Andrew Westacott said.

Three F1 team members placed in isolation amid coronavirus fears. (AAP) (Getty)

"The AGPC is monitoring the situation in conjunction with Formula 1 and the FIA."

There overriding concern will come if the three team members' tests return positive, having already heavily mixed with the F1 racing paddock.

With the large cohort now in Melbourne it could have potentially serious repercussions for the spread of the disease in Victoria.

"We have taken an extraordinarily big risk in order to hold a car race," said John Daley, CEO of the Grattan Institute.

"This risks taking us from a situation where we had virtually no community transmission to one where we are forced to shut down a lot of community activities to prevent a lot of people from dying."

Aussie F1 star Daniel Ricciardo was pulled out of a scheduled Renault team media conference earlier today over fears he might be exposed to the coronavirus.

Daniel Ricciardo (Getty)

Ricciardo and teammate Esteban Ocon were due to take questions from reporters after they unveiled Renault's new livery for the 2020 season at the Albert Park circuit on Wednesday, but were withdrawn by team officials at the last minute.

"It is a very particular circumstance in which we are joining Australia and Melbourne," team principal Cyril Abiteboul said.

"Usually it's a moment that we all love when we are racing in Formula 1.

"Our drivers were supposed to be with us for this event but due to the situation we've excused them for the occasion.

"I hope you understand why we are taking such measures."

Last week the biggest fears were over the arrival of personnel from Italy, which extends beyond team Ferrari to Pirelli and AlphaTauri, after the country was plunged into lockdown due to the disease.

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Members of all three italian organisations had their temperatures taken upon arrival in Melbourne, and key F1 officials have said a race for championship points will not go ahead without them.

Italy is in lockdown as the country attempts to limit the spread of the virus, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday announcing travel restrictions that would have precluded them from taking part in the Australian Grand Prix.

Australia only made the move to ban arrivals from Italy as of Wednesday afternoon.

Next week's race in Bahrain will take place behind closed doors, while the Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for April 19 has been postponed.

-with aap