Formula 1 teams are set to minimise the time they need to spend in Hungary this week in the wake of tight restrictions coming into force.
Formula 1 personnel have operated in a bubble in Austria across the past 10 or 11 days, with teams remaining apart from each other, and bubbles within the same squads set up where possible.
But whereas Formula 1’s Austrian events took place in rural Spielberg the Hungarian Grand Prix takes place at the Hungaroring, on the outskirts of Budapest, with personnel staying in hotels in the city.
Formula 1 teams were always set to remain at their hotels as much as possible, or at the Hungaroring, in order to be responsible.
However on Saturday the updated event notes issued by the FIA’s Covid-19 delegate warned that non-EU citizens face a hefty fine or even imprisonment if caught outside of the track or their accommodation, and that private transport must be used at all time.
As a result some travel plans have been altered such that those whose presence at the circuit is not immediately required can stay out in Austria before heading over the border into Hungary.
“These restrictions apply from the moment you enter Hungary,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
“What we are going to do as a team is enter late. No one wants to be stuck in a hotel room from Monday to Thursday, so in that respect, we are going to maintain the bubble in Austria.”
