Lundgaard to miss F2 test due to coronavirus quarantine

Renault Formula 1 junior Christian Lundgaard has been forced to miss next week’s Formula 2 test in Bahrain after being detained in Tenerife due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Lundgaard, who is set to contest his rookie F2 campaign this year with ART Grand Prix after graduating from Formula 3, has been on a training camp in Tenerife organised by the Renault Sport Academy and subsequently detained on the Spanish island following an outbreak of COVID-19 in his hotel.

The 18-year-old Danish racer has been declared fit and was showing no symptoms of the coronavirus after undergoing tests.

“Regrettably, due to a genuine force majeure situation, Danish racer Christian Lundgaard will be unable to take part in the official FIA Formula 2 tests in Bahrain from 1 – 3 March 2020,” An ART statement read.

"Over the past week, Christian, 18, has been participating in a winter training camp in Tenerife organized by Renault Sport Academy, however he has been detained on the island following an outbreak of the Coronavirus in his hotel.

“Christian has been checked by medical experts and is fit and well and not displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, however the governing authorities have ruled all guests of the hotel must remain in quarantine for two weeks as a precaution against the spread of the virus.

“Renault Sport Academy, ART and Christian would like to thank you for your wishes. No further announcement will be made on this unprecedented situation.”

The escalation of the coronavirus and first confirmed case in Bahrain has led to the Gulf state imposing strict checks on those arriving in the country from high-risk areas.

This has resulted in long delays for F2 and F3 teams travelling to Bahrain to take part in testing, most notably for Prema Racing, after the worst outbreak of the virus in Europe emerged in northern Italy near where the outfit is based.

F2 and F3 testing is due to take place at the Bahrain International Circuit between March 1-3, with the first round of both championship’s kicking off at Bahrain on March 20-22, supporting F1.