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The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton will not participate in this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain after testing positive for Covid-19. Hamilton is the third F1 driver to test positive for the virus after Sergio Pérez (before the British Grand Prix) and Lance Stroll (before the Eifel Grand Prix) this year.
In an official statement, the Mercedes F1 team stated that Hamilton was tested three times last week and returned a negative result each time, the last of which was on Sunday afternoon at the Bahrain International Circuit as part of the program. standard race weekend testing.
However, the seven-time world champion woke up on Monday with mild symptoms and was informed that a contact prior to his arrival in Bahrain had subsequently tested positive. After this, an additional test was performed which gave a positive result, and this has been confirmed by a new test.
According to the Covid-19 protocols and the guidelines of the public health authority in Bahrain, Hamilton is now isolated and, aside from mild symptoms, the team says that he is otherwise fit and well. With this development, Hamilton’s participation in the final race of the 2020 season in Abu Dhabi remains in doubt, as a negative test is required before he is allowed to return to the paddock.
For now, the Mercedes F1 team has yet to confirm who will replace Hamilton for this weekend. Candidates include the team’s reserve drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Gutiérrez, the former probably being the first-choice driver.
Another possibility is to enlist the services of Nico Hülkenberg, who replaced Pérez and Stroll with Racing Point F1 Team for three races in 2020. George Russell, who is part of the Mercedes Young Drivers Program, can also enlist, although this would require permission. from his active team, Williams.
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