McLaren has withdr🔥awn from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after a member of its team tested positive for the coronavirus.&nb🌳sp;

A 🌞member of the team had been self-isolating in Meℱlbourne since Wednesday after showing symptons of COVID-19 amid the ongoing pandemic and the Woking squad confirmed on Thursday evening that the result was positive. 

It has subsequent෴ly pulled out of the first race of the 2020 F1 season, throwing the opening round in jeopardy. F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn had previously stateꦦd that a world championship race would not take place if one team was unable to participate. 

"McLaren Racing has confirmed this evening in Melbourne that it has withdrawn from the 202🐠0 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, following the positive test of a team member for the coronavirus," a team statement read.

"The team member was tested and self-isolated as soon as they started to show symptoms and will now be treated by l🎐ocal healthcare authorities.

"The team has prepaꦺred for this eventuality and has ongoing support in place for its employee who will now enter a period of quarantine. The team is cooperating with the relevant local authorities to assist their investigations and analy꧑sis.

"Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and Andr𒈔eas Seidl, Team Principal of McLaren F1, informe🌼d Formula 1 and the FIA of the decision this evening.

"The decision has been taken based on a duty of care not only to McLaren F1 employees and p💫artners, but also to the team’s competitors, Formula 1 fans and wider F1 stakeholders."

Four members of the Haas team c𓄧rew were also tested for coronavirus but the American squad c𒅌onfirmed that all results had come back negative. 

A statement from F1 in response to McLaren's withdrawal read: "Formula 1 and the FIA have been coordinating with all the relevant authorities on the next steps. Our pr🀅iority is the safety of the fans, the ꦍteams and all personnel at the race."