2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg has been barred from the Formula One paddock after refusing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.
This comes after viewers of Sky Deutschland’s F1 coverage in Monaco wondered why the former F1 driver was reporting from his nearby residence rather than from the paddock with his colleagues. Despite the fact that his 2016 victory secured him a lifetime paddock pass, he is banned due to violating the sport’s vaccination policy.
All people working in the F1 paddock, including drivers, teams, journalists, hospitality workers, and race attendees, must be fully vaccinated by 2022. The requirement was put in force when F1 opted to run the 2020 and 2021 seasons during the global COVID-19 epidemic.
As F1 and the rest of the world gradually return to the norm, more and more access has been granted to fans and the media.
Rosberg is reportedly unable to access the paddock because he is a Sky Sports F1 pundit in the United Kingdom, according to Sport 1. The 36-year old was in attendance for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for Sky, however he contributed to their live broadcast from his residence rather than Imola.
He was in Monaco for the Sky broadcast, but he was unable to access the paddock. As a result, Sky’s coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix was broadcast from outside the paddock.
Rosberg has now stated why he does not have the vaccine.
“I recovered well from the corona disease and therefore have strong antibodies, I also have my antibodies tested regularly,” Rosberg told Sport 1. “Under these circumstances, my doctor advised me that vaccination would make absolutely no sense.”
