'Disgraceful': Motorsport world divided by F1's vaccine mandate
Motorsport fans have been left divided over the decision by Formula One to introduce a vaccine mandate for the 2022 season.
F1 decision-makers have announced that it will be mandatory for all personnel working in its paddock to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, without exemption.
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The mandate will apply to anyone entering the paddock - an exclusive area in which teams and drivers set up shop for a race weekend.
"F1 will require all travelling personnel to be fully vaxxed and will not request exemptions," a spokesperson said on Monday.
This will include all competitors, hospitality staff, members of the media, the governing FIA, Liberty Media-owned commercial rights holders FOM and even celebrity guests.
The mandate was approved at a December meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council.
Formula One is set for a record 23-race calendar this year, with races such as Singapore, Japan, Canada and Australia, which had been cancelled for the last two years, set to return.
The 2022 season gets underway in Bahrain on March 20. Teams will run their cars at a pre-season session in Spain from February 23-25 and an official test session in Bahrain from March 10-12.
The new rules call into question the future of long-time medical car driver Alan van der Merwe.
The South African, who played a pivotal role rescuing Romain Grosjean from a fiery crash in the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, has chosen not to get vaccinated for personal reasons.
The FIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the vaccine mandate or Van der Merwe's future.
F1's vaccine mandate divides fans
While many agree with the F1's decision to follow other sports such as the AFL by introducing a vaccine mandate, others argue it impinges on individuals' freedom of choice.
Many British motorsport fans are particularly aggrieved, following news the government is set to scrap similar mandates put in place for health care workers across the country's National Health Service (NHS).
Needless to say, F1's new directive has left motorsport fans at loggerheads, with some labelling the move "disgraceful".
This is just wrong. When the government announce that NHS staff will not be mandated, there must be no room for other employers to dictate that their staff take a medication unless they want to. @F1 @fia https://t.co/chKU5eS9Hh
β Renee Hoenderkamp π (@DrHoenderkamp) January 31, 2022
A man who risked his life to save a burning man after an horrific crash, is banned from F1. π€¬
βFIA driver Alan vd Merwe, rose to prominence following his role in saving Romain Grosjean when his car burst into flames has elected not to have the vaccine.β https://t.co/PTRjT3ELJMβ Robin Redmile-Gordon (Sage) (@WhatNowDoc) January 31, 2022
πππππ Well done F1
Your move, MotoGP! https://t.co/3uxGsqLoCCβ Simon Patterson (@denkmit) January 31, 2022
So in the grand scheme of things something as "unimportant" as F1 are saying vaccines are mandatory but our NHS wont make it mandatory? π€π€π€ pic.twitter.com/TUUG8tN99T
β β‘ Emma Louise β‘ (@Emmalousie63) January 31, 2022
In so much as I have followed F1 since 1995, I have to question this decision. It is what it is but a mistake IMHO.
Vaccines to be mandatory for all F1 staff in 2022https://t.co/EUTg0FaY1j
(via Freader1 https://t.co/HeXClzRNCE) #F1β The Old Hobbit (@britfan007) January 31, 2022
Over 100 staff, sponsors & other personnel for most F1 teams.
Massive logistics & they travel the world for the majority of the year.
So a Covid-19 mandatory vaccine is the correct & sensible decision. https://t.co/ZQd31vRzFvβ Paul (@YepConsiderably) January 31, 2022
Absolutely agree with F1 on this. After all, Covid vaccines have been proven to stop the spread, stopping infections and actually lowering cholesterol and heart disease to boot. Iβm All In on this move. https://t.co/FOwVG9yyBv #
β John Bottomley (@CryptoVeritus) January 31, 2022
Disgraceful decision @F1
Where is freedom of choice? The staff have the right to work without coersion and forced rules. Wait for global uproar, the fans will boycott. #F1
"Formula 1 to make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for all personnel this year" - https://t.co/zCoMrPI6fMβ Thomas Williamsβ¨ (@TK7Williams) January 31, 2022
with AAP
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