The McLaren team member who tested positive for Coronavirus during the Australian Grand Prix is no longer showing any symptoms, the team has confirmed.

Results of tests on 14 other team members who came into contact with the original case are still being awaited. The first team member’s test results were handled as a matter of priority, but the other 14 cases are being handled normally along with others.

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown praised his team’s response after the positive test result was announced. The team swiftly announced its withdrawal from the race, and almost 12 hours later F1 confirmed the grand prix had been called off.

“I’m proud of how the whole team, both in Australia and back at base, handled the situation in a moment of real pressure and concern for their colleagues,” said Brown. “The focus, calmness and professionalism was outstanding across the team. We had leaders stepping up everywhere and that is testament to our people.”

Brown and team principal Andreas Seidl decided in advance they would pull out of the race if a team member tested positive for the virus.

“We had been continually scenario-planning together with the team back in the UK, so we knew what our options were in the event of various outcomes,” he said. “Andreas and I already agreed that if we had a positive case in the garage there was only one option.

“As I said before, as a racer it was the hardest decision I’ve had to take but as CEO it was the easiest. Our people come first and Andreas feels very strongly about this too.”

Brown and Seidl were at a meal with a McLaren shareholder on Thursday evening when they learned of the positive test.

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“We immediately returned to the team hotel to join our race team leadership,” said Brown. “While Andreas focused on leading the team, I focused on our board and shareholders, who were absolutely supportive I must say, while informing the other teams, F1 and the FIA.

“I’m happy to report that our team member affected with the virus is recovering well and the symptoms have gone and our people in quarantine are in good spirits. The support they have been getting from their team-mates, our partners, members of the F1 community and fans from around the world has been fantastic and our thanks go out to all of them.

“Our focus is now on the dialogue with F1, the FIA and the other teams on working through the 2020 calendar and managing the team over the next few months. It’s early days and this is an evolving situation but we are planning ahead and will stay flexible.”

Seidl remained in Australia longer than Brown to help support the team but has since returned to Europe. Other members of the team have stayed in Melbourne with their 14 quarantined colleagues.

“I want to recognise our team members who have had to stay in Melbourne under quarantine at the moment,” said Seidl. “This is not an easy situation. Special thanks to our racing director Andrea Stella and his guys, who volunteered to stay down under for the next 14 days supporting our guys in quarantine.”

The team’s drivers Carlos Sainz Jnr and Lando Norris “have been obviously concerned about their team mates”, said Seidl. We have to keep them physically away from the rest of the team, even though they are both fine, but they are in constant communication.”

“We also appreciate our fellow teams in the paddock who offered immediate help on Friday to dismantle the garage and pack the freight, which was obviously a challenge for us missing 14 of our core guys. This is the spirit of F1 and racing we all embrace.”

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2020 F1 season