Max Verstappen will have to wait to the 2020 season opener in Austria to make his Formula 1 return, after quarantine restrictions stopped him from joining Red Bull’s filming day at Silverstone on Thursday.
A resident of Monaco, Verstappen would have had to comply with the UK government’s requirement for all international arrivals to isolate themselves for 14 days upon entry.
As a result, the team decided that Verstappen’s teammate Alexander Albon will handle all driving duties in the 100km of running the team is allowed with its 2020 challenger. The Dutchman will return to the RB16 when F1 resumes in Austria from July 3-5.
While several other teams have opted to use their 2018 cars for unlimited running, that option was less feasible for Red Bull due to their switch of engine supplier from Renault to Honda in 2019.
Nevertheless, the day will be an important chance for the team to practice F1’s new biosecurity protocols amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as give Albon a chance to re-acclimatise to the car he last drove in February.
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