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 March 11, 2020. (WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

SYDNEY - McLaren became the first team withdrew from the 2020 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix after a team member was tested positive for the COVID-19.

The team said in a statement on its twitter that the team member was tested and self-isolated as soon as he started to show symptoms and will now be treated by local healthcare authorities.

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Besides the British motor racing team case, seven other personnel from F1 teams were also under investigation and their test results were negative, said a statement from the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) later on.

Besides the British motor racing team case, seven other personnel from F1 teams were also under investigation and their test results were negative

"The AGPC is currently in discussions with Formula 1, the FIA and the Department of Health and Human Services in relation to the broader implications of this test result," said the statement.

However, the AGPC also confirmed that there is a ninth individual has been assessed and tested for the virus, with the results of this test pending. This individual is not associated with any F1 team, the FIA or associated suppliers.

According to the statement from McLaren, the team already informed the F1 and the FIA of the decision. "The decision has been taken based on a duty of care not only to McLaren F1 employees and partners, but also to the team's competitors, F1 fans and wider F1 stakeholders," it said.

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The four-day event inaugurated on Thursday amid concern of spreading COVID-19 epidemic. There had earlier been concerns about whether Ferrari would take their place on the venue due to fears about their members being exposed to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.

The confirmed cases in the state of Victoria, where the Albert Park sits, reached 27 till Thursday, according to the state's health department.