Coronavirus mclaren withdraws from australian grand prix team member tests positive

McLaren has withdrawn from the Australian Grand Prix after a team member tested positive for COVID-19.

The team announced the decision on Friday, just hours before the scheduled start of the race at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.

In a statement, McLaren said: "Following the positive test result of one of our team members, we have made the decision to withdraw from the Australian Grand Prix.

"We understand the gravity of the situation and the importance of prioritizing the health and safety of our team members, as well as the wider Formula 1 community.

"We will continue to work closely with the FIA, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, and the relevant health authorities to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent the spread of the virus.

"We apologize to our fans, partners, and the wider motorsport community for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to returning to racing as soon as possible."

The news comes after several other teams, including Ferrari, Red Bull, and AlphaTauri, had already withdrawn from the race due to concerns over the spread of the virus.

The Australian Grand Prix was originally scheduled to take place on March 15-17, but was postponed to November 21-23 due to the pandemic.

The FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, has implemented a range of measures to try to prevent the spread of the virus, including social distancing, mask-wearing, and temperature checks.

However, despite these efforts, several teams have still been affected by the virus, with several drivers and team members testing positive in recent weeks.

The situation is likely to continue to evolve in the coming days and weeks, and it remains to be seen whether the Australian Grand Prix will be able to take place as scheduled.