Motor Sport – A1 British Grand Prix – Manufacturers Hatch – 3/5/09
Alan van der Merwe – South Africa throughout the Function Race
Obligatory Credit score: Motion Photographs / Paul Harding
LONDON, Oct 11 (Reuters) – System One medical automobile driver Alan van der Merwe dangers lacking extra races, after his absence from Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix, because of his choice to not get vaccinated for COVID-19.
Van der Merwe, 41, and F1 physician Ian Roberts examined constructive independently for the coronavirus forward of the race and didn’t journey to Istanbul, with the FIA’s System E crew standing in.
Each had been within the medical automobile on the earlier Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.
The South African stated on Twitter it was the second time he had contracted COVID-19 and he had not been vaccinated for private causes.
“From what we perceive, there are a few international locations that you just in all probability will not be allowed to enter … except you are vaccinated,” System One’s race director Michael Masi informed reporters on Sunday.
“You’ll want to adjust to these necessities to enter the nation and from that perspective the FIA clearly has to respect the nation’s necessities to get in, as will all of the groups and everybody else.”
Van der Merwe defined his place earlier than the weekend, indicating he had obtained abuse on social media for his stance and would block these making private assaults or wishing him fired.
“I’m totally conscious that I’ll doubtlessly be much less employable or that my freedom of motion shall be restricted primarily based on my decisions,” he stated on Twitter.
“That I cannot select comfort over my very own well being doesn’t imply I’m making selections out of selfishness. All of us simply need to be wholesome.”
He stated he would proceed to look at public well being tips, scale back threat as a lot as attainable, and respect the choices of others.
The remaining races this season are in the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
“In Switzerland (I’m half Swiss) and different developed international locations, prior an infection counts as a lot as a vaccine,” stated van der Merwe.
“I belief that these international locations know what they’re doing, and in addition respect international locations’ extra restrictive guidelines and never journey there.
“If you wish to get vaccinated, do it. I’m pro-vaccine for those who need and may have them.”
Reporting by Alan Baldwin, enhancing by Ken Ferris
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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