F1: McLaren and Haas team members quarantined amid Australian Grand Prix coronavirus fears

Formula One season due to start in Melbourne on Sunday

Members of the Haas F1 team are pictured at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. AFP

A man walks past the McLaren garage at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. AFP

Members of the McLaren team work in pit lane at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. AFP

Racing Point's Mexican driver Sergio Perez (C) walks down pit lane at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. AFP

Renault's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo (centre R) and Renault's French driver Esteban Ocon (centre L) pose for a photo as they attend the unveiling of their team's new car at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. AFP

Alfa Romeo's Italian driver Antonio Giovinazzi (3rd R) walks down pit lane with team members at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. AFP

A man walks toward the entrance to pit lane at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. AFP

Members of the Alpha Romero team work at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. AFP

Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (front R) walks down pit lane with team members at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. AFP

Nicholas Latifi of Canada and Williams walks the circuit with his team during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

Two members of the Haas Formula One team and one from McLaren were quarantined in Melbourne on Wednesday as a precaution amid coronavirus fears ahead of Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

"Two members showed some cold-like symptoms this morning. With the guidelines we've followed, they have been tested (for coronavirus)," a Haas spokesman said.

"As a result of being tested they have to go back into the hotel for isolation while we await the results."

McLaren said one team member had self-isolated in the team hotel as a precaution for showing "coronavirus-like symptoms".

"We expect to receive the results overnight. The team is operating as per our normal schedule," a spokeswoman said.

Both Haas and McLaren are British-based, while Haas has close ties with Italy-based Ferrari, which supplies their power units.

A spokeswoman for Ferrari said none of its team members had been quarantined or tested.

"All are present and accounted for," she said.

Formula One organisers have already postponed the Chinese race scheduled in April, while the Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead without spectators on March 22.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Andrew Westacott had said on Monday that Albert Park was ready to welcome thousands of motor sport fans and there was "no chance" of a spectator ban.

More than 300,000 people attended race week last year, according to organisers' estimates,

With a surge in local cases in recent days and confirmed community transmission in Melbourne, organisers have been under fire from some parts of the media for insisting the race will go ahead without restrictions.