Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko suggested team's F1 drivers should deliberately catch coronavirus

Adviser said season break ideal time to get the disease and recover

File photo dated 26-11-2016 of Dr Helmut Marko Red Bull Motorsport Consultant during practice three at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. PA Photo. Issue date: (enter date here). Red Bull motorsport chief Helmut Marko has revealed he suggested the team’s drivers should try to become infected with coronavirus as it is the “ideal time” with the season on hold. See PA story SPORT Coronavirus Red Bull. Photo credit should read David Davies/PA Wire.
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Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko revealed he suggested the team's drivers should try to become infected with coronavirus as it is the "ideal time" with the season on hold.

The start of the 2020 F1 season has been decimated by the global pandemic, with the opening six races of the year either cancelled or postponed.

As things stand, the first grand prix of a truncated season will be in Canada on June 14, but that will almost certainly change as well.

In the meantime, Marko told Austrian television station ORF that he came up with a plan to see the likes of Red Bull driver pairing Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon – as well as AlphaTauri duo Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat – contract COVID-19 in an attempt to have them fit and healthy when the season finally begins.

"We have four Formula One drivers and eight or 10 juniors," he said.

"The idea was to organise a camp where we could bridge this mentally and physically somewhat dead time and that would be the ideal time for the infection to come.

"These are all strong young men in really good health. That way they would be prepared whenever the action starts.

"And you can be ready for what will probably be a very tough championship once it starts."

Asked how his vision was taken by Red Bull chiefs, he added: "Let's put it this way, it has not been well received."

Marko, 76, believes he may have already had the coronavirus – although he has not been tested – and praised the effort of Red Bull and other Formula One teams in helping to build much-needed ventilators to support the NHS.

"I had what I thought was a severe cold and the symptoms would match corona," he added.

"It was also something that I had never had in this intensity. I don't know if it was because the test options are currently very limited but as soon as there is a chance, I would like to be tested afterwards.