AFP
Paris
Pierre Gasly admitted on Sunday that he was happy to shun Formula One’s hastily-organised virtual world as he concentrates on getting "physically stronger” for when real racing belatedly gets underway in June.
The French driver told AFP he had been ready to hit the ground running for last week’s scheduled season-opener in Melbourne.
However, the global spread of the deadly coronavirus virus saw Melbourne cancelled with six other races also shelved, including the sport’s crown jewel of Monaco.
"When I arrived in Australia, I had almost zero jet lag, I felt great. But when they announced that we would not be racing, it hit me,” said 24-year-old Gasly.
"I had been so excited, there had been so much preparation with the team and physically all winter.
"At the time, we were a little frustrated not to be racing because that is what I want to do and it’s what motivates me.
"But when you see the situation, there is no way to avoid postponing events, sports or otherwise.” The 2020 season will not now start until June 7 in Azerbaijan, at the very earliest.
Gasly is spending his unexpected down time with his physical trainer in the United Arab Emirates.
He is desperate to get behind the wheel of his AlphaTauri car after he was unceremoniously dumped by sister team Red Bull in the middle of the 2019 season.
However, he at least had the last laugh, taking a first career podium in Brazil behind race winner and former Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen.
Weight loss
Gasly eventually finished the campaign a credible seventh in the world championship. "We have a plan for the next few weeks and we’re doing even more than usual,” he added.
"I have never had, over the past 10 years, two months ahead of me before the season resumes to prepare physically.
"I already felt largely ready, we had worked really well during the winter, but to add another two months of preparation, it’s an opportunity to be even stronger physically when the season starts.” That strength and stamina will prove useful in August when it’s possible that some of the postponed races will be shoe-horned breathlessly into successive weekends.
F1’s sporting director Ross Brawn said last week he was optimistic of still having a "17, 18-race championship or more”.
"One thing we have been talking about is two-day weekends, and therefore if we have a triple header with two-day weekends, that could be an option,” he explained.
Gasly said it would be challenging to race three weekends in a row.
It has happened before, in 2018, although many teams were far from enthusiastic, complaining about the fatigue suffered by staff.
"It’s exhausting as you lose between two and three kilos per race and then you have the flights,” said Gasly.
"There is an intensity during a race weekend - from morning to evening, it never stops.
"But if we have three or four races in a row, it is up to us to prepare in the best condition, pay even more attention to recovery and to be at 100 per cent capacity each time.” However, Gasly insisted that taking part in F1’s virtual reality races, announced on Friday, was not an option to prepare for the real thing.
No simulator
"In Dubai, we don’t have a ‘sim’ (simulator), just a PlayStation, so I play games other than F1,” explained Gasly.
"There’ll be a time when I go back to Europe and go back into the simulator at the factory, which is closer to what reality is.
"This is where we learn the most as a driver.” pel/dj/pb/dmc Second Senators player tests positive for the coronavirus By Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times Los Angeles (tca/dpa) - A second player on the Ottawa Senators has tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced on Saturday, making him the second known positive result among NHL players. As with the first player, whose positive result and "mild” symptoms were disclosed by the club late Tuesday, the Senators did not identify the player in question.
The Senators played the Sharks in San Jose [California] on March 7, the Ducks in Anaheim on March 10, and the Kings at Staples Center on March 11 before NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman put the league’s season on hold in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The Senators then returned home to Canada’s capital.
The Senators’ statement said the player who most recently tested positive was part of the team’s traveling party for those games in California.
"The total number of people that travelled with the club is 52, including players, staff, media, guests and flight crew. Of those on the trip, 44 have shown no symptoms, eight people have been tested, and two positive results were received,” the statement said.
"We are awaiting the results from tests that took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Everyone who took part in the Ottawa Senators trip to California was instructed to self-quarantine on Friday, March 13 and remain so. The Ottawa Senators’ medical team is actively monitoring players and staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater community.
"To be fully transparent with our fans and stakeholders, we will continue to provide periodic updates as appropriate, while maintaining the privacy of the individuals impacted.” No other NHL players are known to have tested positive, though NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said earlier this week that some test results were pending.
NHL players have been instructed to self-quarantine at least through March 27. Players have not been allowed to work out at team facilities, though injured players have been permitted to receive treatment at those facilities.
Paris
Pierre Gasly admitted on Sunday that he was happy to shun Formula One’s hastily-organised virtual world as he concentrates on getting "physically stronger” for when real racing belatedly gets underway in June.
The French driver told AFP he had been ready to hit the ground running for last week’s scheduled season-opener in Melbourne.
However, the global spread of the deadly coronavirus virus saw Melbourne cancelled with six other races also shelved, including the sport’s crown jewel of Monaco.
"When I arrived in Australia, I had almost zero jet lag, I felt great. But when they announced that we would not be racing, it hit me,” said 24-year-old Gasly.
"I had been so excited, there had been so much preparation with the team and physically all winter.
"At the time, we were a little frustrated not to be racing because that is what I want to do and it’s what motivates me.
"But when you see the situation, there is no way to avoid postponing events, sports or otherwise.” The 2020 season will not now start until June 7 in Azerbaijan, at the very earliest.
Gasly is spending his unexpected down time with his physical trainer in the United Arab Emirates.
He is desperate to get behind the wheel of his AlphaTauri car after he was unceremoniously dumped by sister team Red Bull in the middle of the 2019 season.
However, he at least had the last laugh, taking a first career podium in Brazil behind race winner and former Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen.
Weight loss
Gasly eventually finished the campaign a credible seventh in the world championship. "We have a plan for the next few weeks and we’re doing even more than usual,” he added.
"I have never had, over the past 10 years, two months ahead of me before the season resumes to prepare physically.
"I already felt largely ready, we had worked really well during the winter, but to add another two months of preparation, it’s an opportunity to be even stronger physically when the season starts.” That strength and stamina will prove useful in August when it’s possible that some of the postponed races will be shoe-horned breathlessly into successive weekends.
F1’s sporting director Ross Brawn said last week he was optimistic of still having a "17, 18-race championship or more”.
"One thing we have been talking about is two-day weekends, and therefore if we have a triple header with two-day weekends, that could be an option,” he explained.
Gasly said it would be challenging to race three weekends in a row.
It has happened before, in 2018, although many teams were far from enthusiastic, complaining about the fatigue suffered by staff.
"It’s exhausting as you lose between two and three kilos per race and then you have the flights,” said Gasly.
"There is an intensity during a race weekend - from morning to evening, it never stops.
"But if we have three or four races in a row, it is up to us to prepare in the best condition, pay even more attention to recovery and to be at 100 per cent capacity each time.” However, Gasly insisted that taking part in F1’s virtual reality races, announced on Friday, was not an option to prepare for the real thing.
No simulator
"In Dubai, we don’t have a ‘sim’ (simulator), just a PlayStation, so I play games other than F1,” explained Gasly.
"There’ll be a time when I go back to Europe and go back into the simulator at the factory, which is closer to what reality is.
"This is where we learn the most as a driver.” pel/dj/pb/dmc Second Senators player tests positive for the coronavirus By Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times Los Angeles (tca/dpa) - A second player on the Ottawa Senators has tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced on Saturday, making him the second known positive result among NHL players. As with the first player, whose positive result and "mild” symptoms were disclosed by the club late Tuesday, the Senators did not identify the player in question.
The Senators played the Sharks in San Jose [California] on March 7, the Ducks in Anaheim on March 10, and the Kings at Staples Center on March 11 before NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman put the league’s season on hold in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The Senators then returned home to Canada’s capital.
The Senators’ statement said the player who most recently tested positive was part of the team’s traveling party for those games in California.
"The total number of people that travelled with the club is 52, including players, staff, media, guests and flight crew. Of those on the trip, 44 have shown no symptoms, eight people have been tested, and two positive results were received,” the statement said.
"We are awaiting the results from tests that took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Everyone who took part in the Ottawa Senators trip to California was instructed to self-quarantine on Friday, March 13 and remain so. The Ottawa Senators’ medical team is actively monitoring players and staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater community.
"To be fully transparent with our fans and stakeholders, we will continue to provide periodic updates as appropriate, while maintaining the privacy of the individuals impacted.” No other NHL players are known to have tested positive, though NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said earlier this week that some test results were pending.
NHL players have been instructed to self-quarantine at least through March 27. Players have not been allowed to work out at team facilities, though injured players have been permitted to receive treatment at those facilities.