How Hamilton tried to isolate himself from COVID
Lewis Hamilton is set to miss the first race of his Formula 1 career following a positive COVID test, which comes despite stringent efforts to avoid risk of infection as JONATHAN NOBLE explains

Lewis Hamilton's positive coronavirus test sent shockwaves through Formula 1 on Tuesday, with the world champion now set to miss the first race of his career.
Having had an unbroken run since he made his debut at the 2007 Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton is definitely out of the Sakhir Grand Prix and may yet miss the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
But the surprise of Hamilton's positive test is increased by the fact that the Mercedes driver had been one of the strictest when it came to trying to keep himself isolated from others.
At the races, he steered clear of staying in hotels and instead lived out of his motorhome.
- Hamilton misses Bahrain GP
- Who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes F1 team for Sakhir GP?
- Hamilton "devastated" to miss Sakhir GP after contracting COVID-19
- Vandoorne not dwelling on 'chance' of F1 comeback with Mercedes
There was also limited contact with team members, with all meetings being done on Zoom, in order to try to minimise the risks of infection.
As Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: "The drivers are the most restricted of the whole group, of the whole team.
"Certainly it's not a great situation for them because you almost need to live like a hermit and that's what they are doing.
"They are at home, they are not going out for dinners. They are not meeting any other people."

Hamilton indeed did try to cut himself off from as many people as possible when back home in Monaco, explaining in a recent interview to select media, including Autosport: "This year has been the first time I've been home. I've never really been home.
"Obviously in my winter, I go to the mountains [in Colorado], which I really see as my main home. Because it's a house and it's full of love and memories from people, the family that come every winter.
"Where I've lived in Monaco, it's been somewhere I go back to and I'd call home but it lacks those memories. I'll be there for short periods of time. So it's not been the easiest.
"But I think this year, finally being in one place for a week after a race, I've just not really ever had that and it's been really good in many ways, but, you know, pretty challenging. Also there's been times just to keep your head above water, and it's definitely been a challenge.
"But I know it's the same for so many people around the world. I've had lots of different things to focus on. I've managed to find myself very comfortable on my own, but managed to find peace, being centered and just being happy. And I've been able to focus on weaknesses in training."
Hamilton's bubble consisted mostly of himself and his physio Angela Cullen. Even long-time assistant Marc Hynes did not spend much time close to him.
"It's been mainly with Angela," explained Hamilton. "So Marc heads home [after races], and he's not really I wouldn't say too much in my bubble. So it's been Angela, and thank God for Angela."

Hamilton said that he often tried to encourage Cullen to spend more time with her family, but she insisted on staying with him to help him out.
"I've tried to get her to go home to her family as much as possible," he added. "But it's not easy to spend time with anyone I think for long periods of time. But we're room-mates and you know, pretty much best of friends. So we work well. And pretty much we do everything together.
"We always skydive together, we surf together, we run together, we go to the gym, we do everything pretty much. We do yoga together, meditate now. So we're very much aligned in terms of things we like to do.
"We are both on a plant-based diet, so we're learning a lot together. And there's things I raised that she maybe didn't know, and vice versa."
But despite all the precautions, which even included his boss Wolff refusing to visit him in Monaco when he had the opportunity, COVID-19 still managed to get inside Hamilton's bubble.

Previous article
Who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes F1 team for Sakhir GP?
Next article
Todt: F1 needs to quickly understand "scary" fiery Grosjean crash

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | Lewis Hamilton |
Author | Jonathan Noble |
How Hamilton tried to isolate himself from COVID
Trending
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak