All personnel will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the F1 paddock during the 2022 season, RacingNews365.com understands. As per a senior F1 source, the rule will apply to every paddock pass holder, covering teams, drivers, media, FIA/F1 personnel and any guests. It comes ahead of what is set to be a record-breaking 23-race campaign , kicking off in Bahrain in March and concluding in Abu Dhabi in November, with visits to five of the world's six habitable continents.
COVID-19 and the F1 paddock
While the vaccination status of drivers has not been released, the majority of the F1 grid were involved in a special campaign towards the end of the 2021 season, urging the public to take up the offer of a vaccine over the winter period. The subject recently came under the spotlight when unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic battled to enter Australia for the first major tournament of the year, only to be deported amid issues regarding his visa, which included a request for a medical exemption. As reported by RacingNews365.com at the time, F1 had been working on a vaccination policy in conjunction with all teams, and has settled on enforcing the 'fully vaccinated' rule for 2022. It is also understood that the rule applies to testing, with pre-season sessions planned in Barcelona and Bahrain .
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