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Pierre Gasly has become the latest driver to test positive for the coronavirus, days after returning from a training camp in Dubai.

Since the pandemic reached a point critical enough to cause a global shutdown last March, Formula 1 almost made it through the entire season with two apparently isolated cases amongst its star performers.

Sergio Perez, having returned to Mexico to visit his mother in hospital after a fall, contracted COVID-19 in July. He was forced to sit out two races while in isolation and recovering. In October, his teammate Lance Stroll caught it – the Canadian hadn’t been anywhere outside of his work commitments but seemed to just be a victim of coming in contact with someone else.

However, with the end of the season in sight, some of the paddock seem to have mentally relaxed in their thoroughness at observing the safe guidelines. Lewis Hamilton apparently visited friends in Dubai prior to the Bahrain/Sakhir weekends, and contracted the virus. Missing just one race, he appeared to be a shell of himself after his bout – the virus seemingly hitting him harder than it had Perez and Stroll.

Three drivers have since contracted the virus. Lando Norris was confirmed as testing positive by McLaren on the 5th of January. A carefully worded statement made sure to say that the British driver was in Dubai on holiday ‘ahead of a training camp’. Just nine days later, Charles Leclerc tested positive for the coronavirus while at home in Monaco. Guess where he had just returned home from? Dubai.

Just days later, pictures emerged of Pierre Gasly in Dubai. Posing for pictures with hotel staff and guests, the pics showed him failing to social distance and not wearing a mask. Predictably, two weeks later, he has now confirmed he has tested positive.That makes it 6/20 drivers on the grid now, some 30%, with 4 of those 6 getting it after travelling to Dubai, where figures have been steadily climbing.

While obviously hoping that he recovers quickly, like Lelcerc and Norris did, the proximity of their positive tests highlights the mental relaxation the drivers seem to be going through during the time period where there’s little chance of them missing a race. Having made it through seven months with two drivers testing positive from one team, four drivers from four teams have now tested positive in the space of eight weeks.

Gasly told Autosport towards the end of the season: "You feel a bit like you're in a cage, where you don't have the freedom to really do and see the people you want. So I'm clearly going to take the opportunity over the off-season to do it, because who knows what's going to happen next year."

Leclerc’s and Gasly's statement display an astonishing lack of awareness, and disconnect between their words and actions, as well as an almost wilful ignorance of the global situation.

It’s perhaps understandable that F1 drivers, who have to deal with the very tangible dangers of motorsport, might feel blase about the virus. Being rich, young and as publicly prominent as they are, it’s easy to see why they might feel invincible. Their physical fitness will help considerably if they contract the virus, and there might be a sense of complacency due to the season opener still being almost two months away. But Hamilton, as fit as he is and as healthy a vegan lifestyle that he leads, was knocked for six by the virus. There’s simply no telling how dangerous it might be for each individual driver. Or for the people who Leclerc or Gasly came in contact with between contracting the virus in Dubai and being diagnosed with it after returning home.

But that attitude, nor their wealth, doesn’t entitle them to a shield from criticism regarding how they handle the chances of contracting the virus. Nor does the driver’s popularity. Leclerc & Norris are two of the most popular drivers for their embracing of social media. But think of how different the public response would be if it was the likes of Nikita Mazepin who come forward next.

It’s time for the public to make it clear: It’s not acceptable to be travelling for fun, regardless of your status. Making it clear to their social media channels that their behaviour is selfish and inconsiderate, as well as downright dangerous to everyone around them. Having other F1 drivers, who are taking it seriously, weigh in publicly to decry this elitist behaviour would help too. When the pandemic has passed, go wild.

The vast majority of the people around the world have barely left their houses since last March. For some reason, sporting figures as well as Instagram influencers appear to think that their status makes them immune to the virus and are going on these unnecessary trips. So, unless it’s for work, why not criticise drivers for their behaviour?