Mahindra Racing CEO and team principal Dilbagh Gill has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of this week’s Formula E finale showdown at Berlin’s Tempelhof airfield.
Gill, who will now have to isolate for between ten and 14 days, will likely miss all six races due to the fact they will take place across nine days starting from Wednesday.
It was confirmed that Gill had spent the last two weeks in the United Kingdom before flying to Berlin from London, but tested positive on Tuesday morning.
The team’s chief engineer, Toni Cuquerella, will stand-in as team principal.
Gill spoke to the media on Tuesday and says he doesn’t believe his positive result will impact the team.
“We have a strong management team. Toni Cuquerella was our chief engineer but will step into team principal duties. He and David Clarke, they will basically share the responsibilities.
“As you know on a race day it’s mostly them who take care of running the car. So, we are in pretty safe hands.
“But Toni will be stepping in officially as team principal when I’m away, and David Clarke remains as team manager and sporting director.”
Gill is showing no symptoms of the coronavirus and remains fit and healthy.
For the finale – which will take place behind closed doors – there will be a capped maximum of 1,000 people on-site at any given time while coronavirus testing will be mandatory ahead of races alongside daily on-site screenings.
The use of face masks will also be enforced, alongside the following of social distancing measures and limited movement across workspaces.
Mahindra heads into the final six races in a lowly tenth position in the standings, but given the points on offer over the next nine days, that could change drastically.
The team will field Jerome d’Ambrosio while Alex Lynn replaces Pascal Wehrlein following the German’s immediate departure and expected arrival at Porsche for Season 7.
