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

Melbourne: The British-based McLaren Mercedes Formula One team on Thursday pulled out of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after one of the team members tested positive for coronavirus.

McLaren says the person was self-isolated as soon as he started to show symptoms and ''will now enter a period of quarantine.''

Team officials have taken the decision to pull out of Sunday's race ''based on a duty of care'' for McLaren employees and the wider Formula One family.

Qualifying was scheduled to start Friday.