[ad_1]
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will miss the Sakhir Grand Prix this weekend after testing positive for COVID-19.
Hamilton tested positive on Monday, the day after his victory at the Bahraini Grand Prix on Sunday, in a mandatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix on the same circuit this weekend .
Hamilton has tested negative three times the week before, including Sunday afternoon before the Bahraini Grand Prix, but he woke up Monday morning with mild symptoms and then tested positive. He was informed on Monday that a contact before his arrival in Bahrain had also tested positive.
The 35-year-old has already won this year’s drivers’ title, but he will miss the Sakhir Grand Prix this weekend and could miss the season finale the following week in Abu Dhabi if he fails to return a negative test in time.
It is not yet clear who will replace Hamilton at Mercedes, who won 11 of 15 races this year.
Stoffel Vandoorne is listed as the team’s official reserve driver and is currently testing for the Mercedes Formula E team in Valencia. He last raced in F1 for McLaren in 2018, and he will travel to Bahrain later this week to join the Mercedes F1 team.
Hamilton is currently in segregation under guidelines from Bahrain’s public health authorities, and his contacts have been reported to the FIA.
“The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team regret to announce that Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be able to compete in the Sakhir GP this weekend,” a statement from Mercedes said.
Lewis was tested three times last week and returned a negative result each time, the last one taking place on Sunday afternoon at the Bahrain International Circuit as part of the standard race weekend test program. .
“However, he woke up Monday morning with mild symptoms and was simultaneously informed that a contact before his arrival in Bahrain had subsequently tested positive.
Lewis therefore took another test and returned a positive result. This has since been confirmed by retesting.
“Lewis is now isolating himself in accordance with COVID-19 protocols and guidelines from Bahrain’s public health authorities. Aside from mild symptoms, he is otherwise fit and healthy, and the entire team sends him their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
“We will announce our driver replacement plans for this weekend in due course.”
Hamilton will be the third driver this year to miss a race due to a positive COVID-19 test in a season that has been completely postponed due to the pandemic.
Sergio Perez sat out of the British Grands Prix and 70th Anniversary at Silverstone earlier this year, and his Racing Point teammate Lance Stroll missed the Eifel Grand Prix after feeling sore and over later tested positive for COVID-19. Nico Hulkenberg replaced the two Racing Point drivers on these occasions.
Hamilton won this year’s championship in mid-November at the Turkish Grand Prix, with three races remaining on the schedule. Mercedes dominated this year’s championship, taking 13 of 15 race wins, 14 pole positions and the drivers ‘and constructors’ world championships.
[ad_2]
Source link