Perez says he was “unlucky” to be first F1 driver to have COVID-19
Sergio Perez says he was “just unlucky” to be the first Formula 1 driver to contrꩲact COVID-19 as he defended his decision to return to Mexico between the Hungarian and British Grands Prix.
The Racing Point ﷽driver missed the past two races at Silverstone after𒁏 contracting coronavirus last month when he travelled home to visit his injured mother after she had an accident.
He was replaced by Nico Hulken💜berg but is returning to action at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona after testing neg💟ative for COVID-19.
🅰Speaking ahead of his return to action, Perez stressed he was not to blame as he defended his decision to travel to Mexico, which is one of the world’s current coronavirus hot💝spots.
“I’ve put everythꦆing out in a video,” Perez said. “Where 🀅I went, any place I visited, anything I did after Hungary.
“Everything was done with extreme precautions, with very extreme lines. I was well aware what was going on. I think ൩I was just unlucky.
“I haven’t do🧸ne anything different to the reꦜst of the paddock. So I was just the unlucky one to get it. That’s one thing. I am not willing to take any blame for that because anyone can get it, I was just the unlucky one.”
R🌊eports emerged following Perez's initial positive test that he had met with sponsors and interacted with fans duri🙈ng his trip to Mexico.
But Perez d⛦enied such claims, calling them "very unprofessional" and a "total lie🤡".
"It's a total lie," Perez said during an interview with F1.💞 "I went to Mexico for two days to see my Mum, with all the precautions in place. I took care of everything. I followed all the guidelines.
"When I was in quarantine, I saw everything. I saw people saying I was taking selfies with a lot of 𒁃people, and I made up the story about my Mum. So much bullshit, and so disrespectful.
"So many people here in Formula 1 tend to think we are bulletproof to the virus, and that iꦬs not the case. We are all very vulnerable to this, Weꦜ have to take care of it.
"I have done nothing differently to anyone in this paddock, I took all the preꦺcautions, and it just happened to me.
"It happened to another friend in another team while I was in quarantine, he said: 'Look, I tested positive too'. It can just happen t꧟o anyone.
"But what kind of happened, if tomorrow there is someone else infected, people just make up stor🐼ies instead of being worried about their health."
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for wuqian0821.com around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who 🎶matter in the sport.
